Physical Education and Games 

Introduction

The PE department is a thriving and successful department that not only excels in a wide range of sports but also caters for the demands of all standards of ability. The intention is to maintain and stimulate pupil interest and enjoyment in sports and to promote health and fitness for current and future lifestyles. It is also a major aim to develop a range of desirable personal qualities such as politeness, perseverance, initiative and independence via the establishment of pupil self esteem through the development of physical confidence.

The Sports Curriculum

The Department follows guidelines as laid out in the National Curriculum with students taking part in both mixed and single-sex lessons following a four-year progressive modular programme. Four full-time PE Teachers and a professional Rugby Coach are responsible for the teaching of the curriculum. In addition to this outside coaching specialists are used in activities such as basketball, hockey & tennis. This enables the Department to operate with an excellent teacher-to-pupil ratio, sometimes as low as 1:15 in P.E. and Games lessons.

Extra Curricular

A wide range of extra-curricular sports and activities is offered throughout the year during lunch break, after School hours and in the evening. These activities are very varied and include, for example, athletics, basketball, football, hockey, netball, rounders, rugby, squash, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Recent developments

A substantial amount of investment has been made in a range of sporting facilities in the last three years.  The swimming pool has been completely refurbished, the squash courts have been resurfaced and a fitness suite and viewing area are being developed.  In the Sports Hall the well-equipped fitness suite continues to be developed and a new lighting system has been put in place. A new car park on Top Pitch allows spectators to park by the pitch side and resurfacing work has been carried out on the tennis courts and outdoor basketball court.  It is hoped that an Astro Turf pitch for hockey and other sports will be developed in the future.

Sport Scholarship Programme

Sport scholarships are available to students on entry into Year 7 and the Sixth Form. Scholarships are awarded on merit and represent a real accolade to successful candidates who must not only demonstrate a high level of ability but also future potential. For further information on this matter contact Mr. Andrew Thomas, Director of Sport.

Competitive Sport

In addition to the curriculum-taught sports and the extra-curricular activities coaching programme, the PE Department runs a comprehensive and extremely challenging competitive fixture programme. During the academic year 2006-07 we competed in well over 400 fixtures. All teams play on a friendly traditional fixture list as well as competing in National Championships and the Calderdale Schools’ league. Both individually and collectively our successes are many and varied as demonstrated by the following for the year 2006-07.

Basketball - The Under 13s successfully defended their title and won the Calderdale Tournament for the second year running. The U14s lost only one game all season and defended their Calderdale crown for the third year running.

Biathlon - Four Year 9 students, Abigail Montgomery, Joelle O’Neill, Kasia Faulkner and Anna Sutcliffe, combined to finish 4^th in the National Schools Championships. The Year 7 team, Hannah Clegg, Liberty Baxter-Cox and Emily Marshall, went one better and finished in 3^rd place.

Cross-country - Rishworth were crowned league winners in both boys’ and girls’ competitions and consistently  turned out teams at every age group.  Joelle O’Neill was selected to run at the English Schools Championship.

Diving -  Constance Montgomery came 1^st in the ASA National Finals in the Springboard and 3m Synchronised Pairs event.

Cycling - Edward Li was selected to represent Hong Kong in the Asian Indoor Cycling Championships.

Football - Alex Nicholl in Year 8 and Jack Poxon in Year 7 are both on the books of professional clubs.

Golf -  Year 9 student Helen Searle had a hugely successful season with a string of incredible performances, but her selection for England Ladies’ U18s in the Home Internationals has to be the highlight.

Hockey - Harriet Moore was selected for North of England and West Yorkshire. Hope Thorley was selected for West Yorkshire U17s whilst the Jobson twins, Olivia and Alex, and fellow Year 11 student Rebecca Scott were selected for West Yorkshire U16s. Josie Rixon was selected for North of England U15s and Year 9 student Nancy Moore was selected for West Yorkshire.

Netball - Over 20 girls were selected to play for Calderdale. Grace Marshall and Nancy Moore were selected for West Yorkshire whilst Harriet Moore was selected for Yorkshire & Humberside Netball Academy.

Pentathlon - Year 9 students Abigail Montgomery & Joelle O’Neill represented Great Britain in the Pentathlon at a Youth International Tournament that took place in Slovakia. Joelle came 7^th and Abigail came 5^th helping their team to take the Silver medal overall.

Rugby Union - Jack Andrews represented Lancashire U18s and Edward Cockcroft,    Andrew Curwell, Gilbert Gregory and Elliot Hodgson were selected for Yorkshire U16s. Elliot Hodgson has represented Castleford Tigers RLFC, Andrew Curwell has represented Leeds Rhinos RLFC, and George and Jo Ford are both part of the Bradford Bulls Scholarship. Ben Porritt represented West Yorkshire U16s and Year 9 students Ben Anderson and Stephen Hastings have been selected as part of the West Yorkshire U14 development squad.

Swimming -  Year 7 student Scarlett Wilson swam for Cheshire U13s.

Table Tennis— Sixth Form student Elaine Li was a member of the Yorkshire U18 Table Tennis Squad.

In 2001 both hockey and netball teams travelled to Barbados and in the summer of 2002 the boys toured Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.  In 2004 we visited South Africa on our first overseas combined tour, winning all but one of 16 hockey and rugby matches. Over 80 students toured South America in 2006 playing in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.  2008 will see the U15s travel to South Africa while the U18s will tour Australia.