SPORT& EXERCISE 1 Sport & Exercise (SpEx) at

SpEx is a pupil-centred Key to this is the unique way in which "From to programme which unlocks every Sport and Exercise interact in each part of the programme as well as our passion for there are loads of activities child’s potential by exposing them Physical Literacy and Health & Wellbeing. to experiences and opportunities Over 32 Specialist teachers and coaches are to choose from to keep you which guide them towards Sports used to deliver SpEx at every age group at mentally and physically fit" school and implement a curriculum which Pathways that they are invested challenges and inspires every pupil. We are Max, Year 8 in. lucky to have over 23 acres of green space, a 25 metre indoor swimming pool, courts, courts, courts, an Astroturf and a strength and conditioning suite to help pupils develop their full potential from the age of 3 to 18.

22 sports to choose from

We offer 22 pathways and support our pupils that water can offer, and can’t wait to jump in gaining the confidence and competence into our 25 metre pool and take part in required to follow whichever they feel suits swimming galas, or rowing or . In them as an individual. the same way, other pupils might prefer a We understand that some children thrive mindful solo exercise such as cross country, in team sports such as netball, football and and . hockey, whereas others love the freedom

Sport Pathways

We strongly believe in pupil choice and so Sports include: • Cricket • Squash • Gymnastics from Year 7 our pupils are supported by • Football • Hockey • • Dance teachers and coaches to explore and then • Netball • Cross-Country • Rowing • refine their sport pathways. • Eton Fives • Swimming • Sailing • Rugby We offer 22 different sports both on and off-site where pupils work with coaches, • Athletics • Water Polo • Kayaking • Basketball teachers and instructors to develop their • • Triathlon • Climbing confidence and competence, whatever their level of experience.

2 3 Extensive Facilities and Professional Coaches

32 specialist PE teachers A legacy of gender "Exercise helps me relax and sports coaches equality in co-ed sport and reflect, plus it is important that we do a lot We have 32 full and part time specialist PE As a school which introduced girls 15 teachers and Sport coaches, 2 strength and years ago, we are proud of the number of of sports and try to break conditioning specialists who work with sportswomen who have risen to the highest professional athletes such as Team GB level; at Highgate girls can participate up periods of screen time." sprinters and elite footballers, who teach in every one of the twenty-two sporting Diba, Year 8 on university programmes and are at the pathways. With school, club, county and forefront of their field. regional athletes, we have an impressive level of female participation and excellence that co-exists with boys’ sport at the school.

Sporting champions and achievements

Kira Rothwell Ruby Hart Theo Pliner Netball, Professional Contract with Middlesex Tennis; U14 & U16 Middlesex England National Water Polo ; Pulse Franchise, England Under 19 Champion; Regional winner at U14, U16 USA Olympic Development Program and Under 21 representation & U19; National Final Winner; UK Top 20 athlete Amalia Blank Mathilda Finburgh National Muay Thai Competition (2nd Football; England caps for ISFA Under 16 Isobel Chadwick in England; qualifies for European and Under 18; signed for London Bees Youth U15 1500m Swimming (Freestyle) Regional Championships) and Woman’s teams Silver medallist; London Youth Games Aquathlon Champion; Middlesex Schools’ James Kadziak Ashleigh Mia-Dodkin U15 1500m Silver medallist; Thames Turbo National Triathlete; Competitor at Junior : Competing in European, British Youth Aquathlon Champion European Championships and England circuits, most notable achievements: Elite International Narelle Wojtkowiak Charlie Nabarro Gold Medallist. Selection for World British Gymnastics National Talent England Under 13 Team Championships Development Programme; Bronze medallist in the English Championships; Top 10 GB William Frais Amani Kohler athlete. Indoor Cricket Team England Indoor Cricket; Middlesex Schools’ Combined Events; Middlesex Schools’ U15 Harry Manttan Alice Jones 300m Silver medallist; Saracens Mavericks Won the NETT Junior Golf Championships England Ice Hockey Netball; London Schools Cricket in September 2020

4 5 Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

Whether a pupil loves competitive High Performance Outreach and partnerships team sports, prefers solo cross Programme country running or choreographed We take pride in sharing of expertise and resources as well as giving our facilities to dance, we have the coaches, Our High Performance Programme is borough and county events to support youth created specifically for both emerging and facilities and flexibility to sport in one of the most deprived parts of competing athletes at Highgate. The SpEx the country. accommodate everyone's taste. department goes beyond the curriculum for these pupils and provide opportunities for We have formed close bonds with Haringey Exercise is a personal thing, and that means them to reach their sporting potential. Sport Development leading to members of staff running teams for the local borough we like to find a sport for each pupil to enjoy, Examples include visits to university and pupils in Athletics, Water Polo, as well as help keep them physically and programmes, workshops and seminars. Aquathlon, Rowing, Tennis, Hockey and mentally healthy. We also like to support Pupils also attend talks on topics such Weightlifting. co-educational sport, and that pupils of all as psychology, sports parenting and sexes and all genders have the opportunity biomechanics hosted by experts in the In 2018 we also set up a partnership with to take part in all the sports that they would field of sport. Before lockdown we hosted the London Academy of Excellence in like to. a talk on sports nutrition and impact on Tottenham, (LAET) to open the opportunity performance with a group of Highgate for pupils to attend the highly acclaimed alumni OCs: rising GB Cycling star Molly Roundhouse Street Circus Collective where Patch (QG 2013), George Morgan (NG pupils are taught impressive acrobatic 2005), Head of Nutrition for Saracens Rugby routines. Team and Andy Parkinson (NH 1982), CEO of British Rowing, previous Head of UK Anti-Doping.

Wellbeing

During the recent lockdown caused by "There are countless Covid-19, our SpEx team created a remote physical exercise system called ‘SpEx@ members of staff who have Home’ to encourage pupils to participate in mood lifting exercise through live ZOOM gone above and beyond fitness sessions and quizzes. All year groups to ensure that all children were sent a weekly training pack to support their physical progress during lockdown, are included, supported with over 200 fitness videos uploaded for and happy in sport – pupils to follow online with their families. In 2020, we launched the ‘SpExKitchen’, a regardless of their skill or recipe sharing initiative to encourage both ability" staff and pupils to take pleasure in cooking fresh ingredients from scratch and establish Parent a healthy relationship with food and understand the benefit if nutrition.

6 7 8 www.highgateschool.org.uk