LOCKDOWN Gareth James, Director Of Sport
Sport
I must start this section by saying a huge thank you to everyone that made sport possible throughout an extremely challenging time. Keeping pupils active, healthy and happy throughout the lockdown was a major focus. From weekly live workouts and a training programme for all abilities, to skills challenges set via social media and a series of vodcasts, featuring interviews with school staff and international sportsmen/women, we worked hard to keep pupils engaged.
When restrictions began to be relaxed, most pupils were still unable to return to school for lessons but sports clubs were possible and so we created sports sessions for small groups on Saturdays from midJune. To be able to provide sporting opportunities to every pupil in Lower Third, Upper Third, Fourth Form, Lower Fifth and Lower Sixth, given the circumstances, was nothing short of outstanding and would not have been possible without the ground staff, cleaners, support staff, coaches and Senior Leadership Team. Across the entire lockdown period, the sporting sessions we were able to deliver were as followed: • Sport Sessions for Key Workers’ Children – these were socially distanced sessions delivered in the height in lockdown with HITT Fitness. • Lower Fifth and Lower Sixth Sports Sessions – pupils who were able to return to school for some lessons in the second half of Summer Term were able to choose between small group sessions, in accordance with their respective NGB guidelines, including cricket, rugby, football, tennis and hockey at the end of their academic lessons. • Sports for Lower Third, Upper Third and Fourth Form – we provided specialist Saturday sessions for tutor/house groups on a rotation for every pupil in these year groups. Pupils were able to select specialist coaching sessions in cricket, rugby, hockey, tennis, fitness or football.
LOOKING AHEAD As we look ahead to 2020-21, with some uncertainty surrounding how school sports will be able to operate in the short and medium term, we are creating as many positive sporting experiences for our pupils as possible. We also look forward to our planned tours for Netball to Dubai and Cricket to St Lucia and fervently hope they will go ahead to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The Johnian 2020
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