12 minute read
Sport
Overview 2020-2021
After the year we had during 2019–20, we were all looking forward to things making a swift return to normality at the commencement of 2020–21; then we had to think again, and think again we did. A reshuffle of our Prep Games programme, including beginning with Cricket, was first on the cards and we have continuously thought outside the box to ensure that the Junior School pupils were still able to access a creative, diverse and forward-thinking sports and physical education programme. Rugby followed for the second half of the Michaelmas term, and with lack of daylight and dreary weather conditions mirroring our outlook it seemed that we would need to accept the fact that a normal sporting calendar was not going to be achievable.
This notion was compounded by a second national lockdown post-Christmas and a return to PE lessons delivered from our living rooms. The Junior School PE team embraced the challenge with determination and the bit between their teeth, knowing the importance of regular physical activity in these challenging times. It was a delight to regularly see upwards of 70 Junior School students and their families joining in with our daily morning fitness ‘Move and Groove’ sessions. These alternated between aerobics-based sessions with Miss Morris, and a Joe Wicks/Mr Macklin style pupil friendly HIIT session! These sessions were just as beneficial for us as they were for our pupils, and it was wonderful to hear such positive feedback from those involved. We got creative during PE lessons with a focus on gymnastics throughout, whilst juggling and target and aiming skills were also developed. Throughout a difficult time, a special mention goes to those Prep and Pre-Prep pupils who attended every single morning fitness session; what a fantastic achievement! It was also great to see so many pupils participating in the whole school Strava challenge, and it was pleasing to hear of pupils dragging their families out for exercise in the name of their school Houses. We returned to school full of energy for the end of the Lent term, and pupils threw themselves back into sport with the resumption of PE, Games and after school activities. After the half-term break, we picked up rugby from where we left off in October, honing our rugby specific skills in the lead-up to our House Rugby competition occurring in the last two weeks of term. This was a brilliant
showcase of our pupils’ rugby abilities and the skill level and understanding of the game on show was a delight to see. We also managed to organise one cricket fixture prior to half term, a Year 6 boys A-C fixture against Bickley Park School, and the move to Cricket after the Trinity half term allowed for more fixtures to look forward to. In what has been an extremely challenging year for all, I could not be prouder of all of the efforts that our Junior School pupils have made to keep fit, healthy and active throughout the year. I look forward to next year and a return to a full sporting calendar with opportunities for all of our pupils to get moving again!
SWIMMING
This year has been a difficult one for our swimmers, with far less pool time than we would have hoped for. The Prep Department did however have an online lesson looking at diving, synchronized swimming, water polo and underwater hockey! It gave them an insight into a plethora of sports that might take place in a swimming pool.
At St Dunstan’s College we are lucky to have our own pool, and we have managed to get plenty of pool time since returning from lockdown. Our lessons from Reception to Year 6 take place on a weekly basis where we learn a range of skills. We float, we scull, we kick, we learn drills, we dive, we tumble-turn and we race! We are all looking forward to the highly exciting House Swimming Gala in Years 3-6, the noise will surely raise the roof! We share William’s enthusiasm and look forward to a return to galas next year!
I personally have loved swimming my whole life, so for me to be the Swim Captain in Year 6 has been a privilege and amazing. My time in the Junior School has been wonderful, being in the swim team from Year 3 to Year 6. I’m certainly looking forward to the Senior School and all the swimming that is to come!
HOCKEY
This year we had the benefit of having our expert hockey coach Mr Corbin-O’Grady joining us in our lessons and the continuation of the very popular Friday night hockey club. The number of sessions was reduced due to lockdown, of course, but they were packed with fun games which helped us all to improve our skills.
You probably know me as the Junior School Hockey Captain at St Dunstan’s College! My name is Sam and I am in Year 6. I have been playing hockey for over 4 years at my club (Blackheath and Eltham) and I have been playing in school since I started here. I have really enjoyed it because it has given me confidence in myself and the teachers at school are very supportive; they can teach you tricks that you didn’t even know about. Also, the game is not a one player game; it’s a team game where you’re guaranteed to get the ball. It’s a very strategic game where you have to think about your next move and look for different ways to get into the D. I began to practise until I got better and then, at the start of Year 6, I got chosen to be Hockey Captain and I was so proud of myself. I knew it was a massive responsibility, so I did my very best. Sadly, because of the pandemic, it was a lot harder to practise and lots of events were cancelled, but I believe that next year it will be different and everything will be back to normal, so I encourage everyone to try their very best to achieve what they want (especially in hockey)!
CRICKET
It was an interesting year for our budding cricketers, with the focus during Games taking place in September due to the forced reshuffle of our Games programme. Batting, bowling and fielding opportunities were numerous on the wonderful College fields.
Although fixtures were placed on hold for the majority of the year, our Year 6 boys thoroughly enjoyed their first fixture for the year away at Bickley Park during the first half of Trinity term, and we hope to hold more fixtures throughout the remainder of the term across the Prep department. Special mention must go to Evan N’da-Koffi (6F) for his selection in the London Schools Cricket Association Winter Training Squad. The squad was selected after the most extensive trials in its history which included around 700 applicants. Further to this, Evan was also selected in the Surrey County Cricket Club U11 Performance Squad and will certainly have a busy summer of cricket ahead of him.
I have enjoyed that even with Covid restrictions we still got to play a lot of sport at school. As I love cricket, I was thankful that home schooling wasn’t through the cricket term this year, and that there have been a lot of boys and girls that enjoy cricket in Year 6. I am looking forward to having even more people to play cricket with next year, and more fixtures.
FOOTBALL
The last twelve months have been very challenging for school team sports. For example, it was disappointing that we couldn’t play a competitive football match this year, however, we have been able to work extra hard on our fitness at home and at school. Lots of us have taken up cycling, running and walking to stay fit and healthy. What I think everyone is looking forward to for the rest of the Trinity term is getting back to school sport and playing other school teams. In Year 7 it will be very exciting to have many new faces to help create and build a higher standard for St Dunstan’s sport.
The football programme at St Dunstan’s was one of the worst affected by the pandemic, with the post-Christmas national lockdown impacting much of the football term. We did, however, manage to pick up some football during the Friday Forder slot and some after school activities, providing our pupils with the chance to make up for some of the time lost earlier in the year.
We look forward to the return to a normal year next year, with fixtures against local schools and mixed year group clubs. Our Year 5 pupils in particular are an extremely strong football year group, including one pupil in Year 5 being scouted for both Crystal Palace and West Ham, and we look forward to nurturing this talent as he and his peers move into Year 6.
NETBALL
As always netball has been a very popular sport amongst the children, and we have managed two half terms of lessons this year. Michaelmas netball took place at the fabulous facilities down at the Jubilee Ground, where Netball Forder was also part of the agenda.
The Trinity term netball could be played on our brand new MUGA up at the main school. The House netball was completed within lessons, but with the usual competitive drive, fun and excitement. Winners in Year 3 were Stuart, with player of the tournament being Marc Kocher. Year 4 Winners were Hecker, player of the tournament was Isabella Ayling. Winners in Year 5 were Forder, the player of the Tournament being Leila Karaki. Year 6 winners were Hecker, with Alyssa Jouy announced player of the tournament. The standard is definitely improving, well done to you all!
This year has been very difficult because of coronavirus. We couldn’t play as much as we all would have liked to, we couldn’t compete with other schools, and we couldn’t go on trips to other schools. But although we couldn’t play against other schools, this year we did have the chance to play with each other in our team and have fun together. I think we have improved our skills a lot, so we are now ready, waiting, and looking forward to next year, to play again properly against other teams, continue having a lot of fun, and hopefully win!
CROSS COUNTRY
House Cross Country is the first sporting event on the annual calendar and is a brilliant way to start the year. Owing to the building works, we had an adapted course this year and students spent the first few weeks of the year building up their fitness and familiarising themselves with the new course. The event was a great success, with all students participating in the event and cheering on their peers. Well done to all those who were involved and to those who finished in the top three places in their year groups.
We also welcomed Ms Shaw to the PE staff as a Sports Assistant and Junior School Cover Teacher. Ms Shaw is vastly experienced in competitive running and has brought her wealth of knowledge to support our students in improving their running and we look forward to the resumption of our cross-country clubs next year. Whilst we have not been able to attend any external cross-country events, our Junior School pupils did a brilliant job in getting active during the January lockdown, through their participation in the whole College House Strava challenge. Well done to all those who got involved in support of their House!
Reflections from our Cross-Country Captain, Max Barrasa Gordon
The House Cross Country was unusual this year because of Covid as there were no spectators and the track was modified because of the building works, but it was still fun. I always feel nervous at the starting line but it is normal and it is a good thing because it makes me focus. Midway through the run, I always check to see if someone will overtake me so I always push myself and remember that I can do it. When you feel tired or out of breath, it is always nice to see the encouraging teachers cheering you on and your House waiting for you at the finish line. I am looking forward to next year!
RUGBY
Whilst the Rugby programme was placed somewhat on hold from September, we restarted in the second half-term following the RFU’s ‘Return to Rugby Roadmap’ announcement. With restrictions placed on contact between pupils, we took this opportunity to focus on other fundamental skills involved with the game.
As we moved through the term and through different checkpoints on the roadmap, ‘Ready For Rugby’ was introduced as a non-contact modified game designed to develop skill acquisition and understanding. Our pupils loved this modified game and it provided them with an opportunity to put into action the skills they had previously developed. Whilst we were not able to attend any interschool fixtures, we did manage to hold our annual House Rugby event. This was a brilliant showcase of teamwork, dedication, gamesmanship and hard work, with all students giving it their all for their Houses. Well done to all pupils who participated in the Prep annual House Rugby Event, and to Edward Burrows (6F), our Rugby captain for his support throughout a challenging Rugby calendar. Within the Year 6 cohort, we have a number of boys playing club rugby outside of school including Edward Burrows, Cian Probert, Rudy Burnell, Lawrence Eaton, Ben Kelly, Max Barrasa Gordon and William Henderson, and put together we have an exciting group of players who will no doubt have hugely successful rugby careers here at St Dunstan’s College and beyond.
I’ve really enjoyed playing sport this year, particularly rugby. I have enjoyed playing team sports again with my friends and being able to represent the school in a few games throughout the year. I am looking forward to new rules in rugby and learning new aspects of the game. I am also looking forward to meeting all my new team-mates who will join the school in September.
