Pupils work on developing fitness
Different pupils from the various year groups have been trying out various types of training as part of their work based on Fitness.
The pupils have been using Heart rate monitors, mentioned elsewhere in this magazine, and have undertaken different training techniques to help them get fitter and healthier.
One of the main thrusts of the new National Curriculum orders coming into play in September is the need to get pupils fitter and healthier to reduce the impact of obesity on our young people and to encourage a healthy lifestyle and the development of Physical Literacy.
The Year 8 Boys have been looking at Circuit Training and Tabata circuits within their lessons and have been developing their own pure strength (the ability to lift their own body weight) and stamina.
The Year 9 Girls have been doing work on the components of fitness and have been doing a range of tests to evaluate their: Speed, strength, power, flexibility, coordination, stamina, and agility. They have also taken part in some step classes and Zumba activities.
A group of Year 10 Girls have started a Healthy Hearts course to develop their fitness and have undertaken a modified curriculum to encourage more activity using varying approaches.
In the curriculum the boys have continued to do Body Pump and many of the GCSE pupils in Year 11 have had weight training counted towards their final GCSE PE practical marks.
Staff join the challenge
Over the past term the teachers have also been looking at their own fitness and the formation of the 6120 club has brought out the inner athlete in many of the teachers.
The 6120 club is a weight loss club based on the percentage of the body weight lost over a 12 week period. Every Monday morning there has been a secret weigh in and staff have tracked the weight they have lost in percentage of body weight rather than stones and pounds. Each week there has been a weekly winner’s prize and then during the last week there were 3 prizes for overall loss.
The winner was Mr. Pilkington who lost 15% of his starting weight.
The teachers have also been embracing the group fitness culture and there have been regular sessions for the John Spence Joggers on a Wednesday night, Insanity training on a Monday night and then there were also the die- hard members of staff who stayed until 5 pm on a Friday night to take part in Body Pump.
A great effort by all involved and it will all start again next term.