5 minute read
A sporting chance
Sport remains an important part of a young person’s development and wellbeing, meaning it is a compulsory activity for all boys at Wetherby Senior School in London
Behind the trademark red doors of the secondary school’s Marylebone Lane building in central London lies a treasure trove of sporting facilities for all pupils to enjoy. This includes a fully-equipped strength and conditioning suite, and a superb spin studio, which also prove popular with pupils at lunchtime and after-school clubs.
Wetherby Senior’s location ensures easy use of nearby state-of-the-art facilities, like Regent’s Park’s sports grounds and Ealing Trailfinders. With sport included as part of the curriculum for all pupils, including sixth formers, this means pupils visit Ealing Trailfinders Sports Ground several times a week, using equipment and pitches available for professional rugby union and cricket teams.
Broad and inclusive
James Sullivan, Director of Sport at the school says: “We’re all aware that the pandemic has disrupted and restricted opportunities to participate in sport, with Sport England’s annual survey of activity levels among young people showing teenage boys hit hardest in this way. Yet, we continue to provide a full programme of sport for all our boys, from age 11 to 18, to ensure they try out different sports, build character and friendships, and stay healthy mentally and physically.
“The breadth of facilities available to our young people, both at our school and away from Marylebone Road, ensures our boys can enjoy the winter team sports of rugby and football and can play tennis and cricket, as well as enjoy youth athletic development or spin. Alongside football, rugby, tennis and cricket, we offer athletics, basketball, swimming, yoga, table tennis and running, to name just a few of our available options.”
Although Wetherby Senior’s sports programme is inclusive, it’s also challenging, with weekly fixtures providing a packed timetable for the school’s numerous sports teams. This includes participation in external competitions alongside inter-house (or intertrib, as Wetherby Senior’s house system is s
Rugby is one of the many winter sport options available at Wetherby Senior School
THE BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Wetherby Senior School’s PE programme focuses on athletic development, wellbeing and leadership skills. Ryan Fuller, Assistant Director of Sport at Wetherby Senior, explains why:
With concerns about rising obesity levels and time spent on screen, it’s easy to focus on the obvious physical health benefits provided by the PE curriculum. However, while athletic development (the improvement of sporting abilities and mobility skills) is important, there are many other benefits to young people when schools provide a strong PE programme.
The interactive and collaborative nature of PE can support wellbeing and help emotional development, as PE encourages young people to work together and help each other. This fosters empathy and understanding as, by working with others, young people learn to navigate complex social situations while improving their communication skills.
Alongside physical development, PE can also contribute to cognitive development, supporting young people with decision making, problem solving and organisation. This, in turn, helps build social awareness, meaning PE can help young people develop their confidence and resilience, and build leadership skills.
Wellbeing and leaderships skills should be seen as running in parallel with, and therefore complementing, the physical outputs and athletic development most frequently associated with PE.
known) competitions. All enable senior boys to build valuable skills and experience, as well as challenge themselves and represent the school or their trib. In normal years, a number of overseas tours would take place, with the school’s PE department receiving an avalanche of advance bookings for the 2023 ski trips to Italy and Canada.
A bespoke programme
In addition to encouraging a lifelong interest in sport, the school’s PE department is keen to ensure pupils further improve their mobility and athletic development. To this end, the school has now partnered with FMS Schools to introduce a new functional movement programme, with each pupil involved given a personalised development pathway to support balance, mobility and postural control, and help with injury prevention.
Ryan Fuller, Assistant Director of Sport at Wetherby Senior, explains: “Using the FMS software will allow our young people to gain a greater understanding of how to move and breathe efficiently, as well as giving each boy an individualised programme to improve their physical literacy. Having access to this platform will enhance the provision the school offers and support an ongoing involvement in regular physical activities to ensure a healthy and active life.”
To last a lifetime
Peter Bowler, CEO of FMS Schools, added: “It’s wonderful to see how progressive the school is and the opportunities on offer for their boys. Together with the school’s PE department, we want to create a movement legacy that lasts them a lifetime.
Headmaster, Joe Silvester, who joined Wetherby Senior last autumn, is happy to continue with the school’s strong, varied and inclusive sporting curriculum for all pupils: “Sport remains integral to the life of Wetherby Senior, which is why we include PE in the timetable for all our year groups and why we ensure access to outstanding facilities, both on and off-site.
The school is based on Marylebone Lane in central London
Building good physical activity habits is important in building a sustainable, healthy lifestyle for the future
New Headmaster Joe Silvester endorses the school’s inclusive sporting curriculum Each pupil has a bespoke developmental pathway devised for their physical education
