Parents' Guide to PGS Senior School Sport, 2023-24

Parents' Guide to PGS Senior School Sport

Welcome to PGS Sport!

We are very proud of our sporting history at PGS, yet we are continually driven to maximise (inspire, nurture, challenge) the capabilities and experiences of all pupils through sport / physical activity so that they may flourish to their highest potential.

In practical terms, we are hoping to develop four major positive outcomes:

Enable high sporting/athletic performance levels during and beyond PGS.

Promote a lifelong healthy and active lifestyle

Develop good human beings who demonstrate the traits of the PGS Core - curiosity, creativity, commitment, courage, compassion and collaboration

Embed a sense of belonging and attachment to the PGS community.

All pupils in Years 7-11 have a timetabled Games lesson (double) and PE lesson (single) per week.

PE lessons are spread throughout the timetable and below is an example of the PE curriculum

PE CURRICULUM (provisional)

Year 7

Swimming, Athletic Foundation, Dance, Ball Skills, Gymnastics, Athletics

Year 8

Swimming, Athletic Foundation, Dance, Ball Skills, Gymnastics, Athletics

Year 9

Athletic Development, Volleyball, Tennis, Squash, Striking and Fielding, Basketball, Athletics

Year 10

Athletic Development, Squash, Tennis, Team Games, Striking and Fielding

Year 11

Athletic Performance, Team Games, Aesthetics, Striking and Fielding, Sport specific coaching

PE lessons take place on the main school site or within sports facilities close to the main school site.

GAMES CURRICULUM (provisional)

Autumn Term

Games Girls Hockey Boys Rugby Girls Netball Boys Hockey

Year 7

Girls Hockey

Year 8

Games

Boys

Year 9

Games

Autumn Term

Girls Hockey Boys Rugby

Rotation - Fitness / Multi-Sports

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Girls Netball Boys Hockey Tennis

Rotation - Fitness / Multi-Sports

Spring Term

Girls Netball

Year 10

Games

Girls Hockey Boys Rugby Girls Netball

Boys Hockey

Health & Fitness

Boys Hockey

Rugby 7's Tennis Dance

Squash Fitness

Summer Term

Cricket Athletics

Tennis

Summer Term

Cricket Athletics

Tennis

Striking + Fielding

Fitness

Year 11

Games

Autumn Term

Girls Hockey

Girls Netball

Boys Rugby Boys Hockey

Tennis

Squash

Dance Fitness

Badminton

SIXTH FORM GAMES

Spring Term

Girls Hockey

Girls Netball

Boys Rugby 7's

Boys Hockey

Tennis

Squash

Dance

Fitness

Basketball

Summer Term

Cricket Athletics

Tennis

Striking + Fielding

Fitness

All pupils in Years 12 and 13 have a compulsory double Games lesson per week. Pupils may select an option each term from a broad range of sports and activities

Below is an example Sixth Form Sports Programme (provisional) for 2023/24:

Autumn Term

Hockey

Netball

Rugby

Football

Dance

Strength + Conditioning

Badminton

Basketball

Sailing

Spin Class

Spring Term

Summer Term

Hockey

Netball

Rugby 7's

Football

Squash

Dance

Strength + Conditioning

Basketball

Spin Class

GAMES LESSONS 2023/24

Year 7 = Tuesday P3&4

Year 8 = Monday P5&6

Year 9 = Friday P5&6

Year 10 = Tuesday P5&6

Year 11 = Thursday P5&6

Year 12 & 13 = Wednesday P5&6

Cricket

Tennis

Athletics

Strength + Conditioning

Striking + Fielding

Football

Squash

Spin Class

SPORTS CLUBS AND INTER-SCHOOL FIXTURES

To enable pupils to further develop their skills and experiences, we run a comprehensive programme of sports clubs (before school, lunch and after school) throughout the year, alongside our weekly sports fixtures

Our ‘ core ’ sports with weekly fixtures are hockey, rugby, netball, cricket, athletics and tennis. However, we also provide opportunities to represent PGS in squash, sailing, cross-country, skiing, golf and swimming. In addition, we offer badminton, basketball, dance, martial arts, climbing and exercise-based clubs for our pupils

We would hope that all pupils are keen to represent the school if selected for sports teams Matches are played every Saturday, and as such, Saturday sport becomes an extension of the school week for many pupils and parents. Any requests for absence from school fixtures should be made in writing to the Director of Sport, giving at least two weeks’ notice where possible. The Portsmouth Grammar School has an expectation that school matches and training sessions will be put before external commitments

All sports fixtures can be viewed on SOCS (parent portal) or www.pgssport.uk , as well as in the Yellow Book (school calendar).

Sports Clubs are published for viewing every term via SOCS and in parent newsletters

For weekend fixtures, our aim is to have all teams posted on the notice board and www.pgssport.uk by midweek. Team sheets give details of venue, kick off times, meeting times, drop off times. It is important that pupils arrive at Hilsea or the bus collection points on time please.

INTER-HOUSE SPORT

Inter-House Sport takes place on a regular basis within the final games lesson of each half term / term and during lunch times. This enables all pupils to make a contribution to their house and provides access to competitive sport within an inclusive environment

SPORTS FACILITIES

Games lessons (and after school sports clubs) take place across a number of sports facilities:

PGS Hilsea Playing Fields

4 x rugby pitches, 1 x hockey astroturf, 5 x netball courts, 10 x tennis courts, 16 x cricket nets

PGS Main School

Full size sports hall, fully equipped fitness suite, 3 x squash courts, climbing wall, dance studio, gymnastics gym

SPORTS FACILITIES

External Facilities:

University of Portsmouth Ravelin Sports Centre

2 x sports halls, 25m swimming pool, fully equipped fitness suite, climbing wall, exercise studios, 2 x squash courts.

HMS Temeraire

2 x hockey astroturfs, 4G rugby pitch, 3G football pitch, 400m athletics track and field event facilities

The Portsmouth Tennis Academy

4 x indoor courts, 5 x outdoor courts

Mountbatten Centre

400m athletics track and field event facilities, 2 x sports halls, 50m swimming pool, exercise studios

Governor’s Green

A grassed training area five minutes walk from the school site, used extensively for PE and Games lessons.

GAMES LESSONS TRANSPORT

Buses will be provided to and from Hilsea Playing Fields (or any other sports facility that requires transport) during Games lessons. Pupils depart during their lunch hour (the year group on Games that day has priority lunch to eat first). Pupils may depart from those offsite Games venues should they wish to do so, however, there will always be return transport to the main school afterwards. We aim to be back at school for as close to 15:45 as possible, but often this can be closer to 16:00 with traffic

Transport is always supervised by members of staff

PARENT COLLECTION / DEPARTURE OF PUPILS FROM HILSEA PLAYING FIELDS

Pupils may be collected from Hilsea Playing Fields after Games lessons and after-school training, however, parents should ensure that they are not obstructing the school buses at those times please.

Pupils wishing to travel home from Hilsea train station are expected to notify a member of the games staff and are expected to walk in groups of no less than two. We would also recommend the same when walking home from Hilsea Pupils wishing to catch a public bus can do so from Hilsea bus stop which is adjacent to the playing fields.

SPORTS CLUBS TRANSPORT

Transport is again provided for after school training clubs, both departing from and returning to the main school site. However, as with the Games lessons, pupils may be collected or depart from their training venue, rather than returning to the main school. Return to the main school from Hilsea after training is 17:50-18:00

SATURDAY SPORT (INTER-SCHOOL) TRANSPORT

Pupils will make their own way to our ‘Home’ match venues (predominantly Hilsea Playing Fields).

Transport will be provided for ‘Away’ matches (although occasionally we may ask for parent assistance when travelling to some of our close competitors) Buses or minibuses will pick-up from both the main school and the Hilsea Lido bus stop, and also drop off at both venues on the return journey.

Approximate return times will be posted on the team-sheets, however, we ask that all pupils should update parents during our return journey via their phones Should a pupil not have a phone, they may use a member of staff's phone to call parents.

PARKING AT HILSEA PLAYING FIELDS

There is not enough space at Hilsea to allow supporters to park on site on match days. Supporters are requested to park at the Lido and walk to the playing fields Traffic congestion is avoided if parents drop pupils at the Lido rather than driving all the way up the lane and having to turn around in a small space

OFF GAMES

Should a pupil be injured or ill, they must bring a parental note (or parent email), or medical centre note to the Sports Office before their games session. In an ideal world, they will also inform their respective sports teacher before or during the registration for Games, out of courtesy and good manners.

Pupils will attend the off-games room (venue TBC when the note is handed to the sports office) and they must bring sufficient work for the full games session Pupils should not expect to miss games in order to finish schoolwork during off games and we appreciate parental support with this.

There is no off-games room for PE lessons. All injured pupils should attend their class as normal and be of help to the teacher in charge

Should a pupil forget their sports kit, we would expect them to speak to the sports teachers as soon as possible and see if there is any spare kit that could be worn.

CANCELLATION OF FIXTURES

Our attitude is to always try and play all fixtures, however, sometimes inclement weather or schools not being able to field teams for example may necessitate a cancellation. This could be earlier in the week or as late as the day itself.

Pupils are informed of cancellations at school or by messages on the boards by the main school entrance If fixtures are cancelled, updates are also made on www pgssport uk so parents are encouraged to look at this if in doubt.

SPORTS KIT

Please see the PGS Sports kit requirements in the Uniform Shop

All PGS pupils are expected to look smart when travelling to and from sports fixtures, as well as playing in sports fixtures Depending on the sport, pupils will travel in their PGS sports kit with track pants and hoodie, or in their school uniform.

Pupils are expected to wear school games kit or PE kit for their respective lessons during the week and for training

When pupils are selected to play for the school, they will wear their games kit (unless directed otherwise)

Pupils selected to represent sports teams in the 6th Form may well be provided a different playing kit, as well as an option to purchase additional training kit that will be charged to their termly bill.

TEAS

All pupils are expected to attend match teas after fixtures in school uniform or PGS Sport tracksuit. Parents are welcome to attend the parents' tea.

TOURS

We are currently reviewing our future touring schedule in light of rising costs and the difficulties in staying with host families Information will be published in due course with a plan for the years ahead. We would hope to offer all pupils the opportunity to attend at least one tour or pre-season camp during their time at PGS

In the academic year 2022/23, the following tours took place:

2023: Senior Girls Netball and Boys Rugby to South Africa

2022: Senior Girls & Boys Hockey to Belgium and Holland

OVERNIGHT TRIPS

The Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 Boys attend the annual Warwick School Rugby 7’s Tournament (Term 2) which requires an overnight stay.

Cup competitions can occasionally necessitate an overnight stay (such as our qualification to the National Squash Finals in 2023).

VALUABLES

Pupils are expected to leave any valuables in their lockers when participating in PE / Sport on or around the main school site. There are also lockers available at Hilsea Playing Fields to store personal items

The school expects pupils to take responsibility for securing valuables. If an item is lost it should be reported to a member of the PE / Sports Department and the pupil’s tutor immediately please.

LOST PROPERTY

Lost property is collected and returned to the Sports Office on a regular basis Named items will then be passed on to the respective tutors for return back to pupils. Unnamed items will remain in the lost property box by the Sports Office.

Lost property is also stored in the main school office for items that have been left / lost outside of the sports areas

MEDICAL PROVISION

There is a staffed medical centre at the main school site, and PGS employs South Coast Rx Physiotherapy to provide match day medical care at Hilsea on Saturdays in the first two terms We also use South Coast Rx Physiotherapy to run a rehabilitation / diagnosis clinic on a Monday after school in the dance studio. This is predominantly for senior players (in the first instance) who will sign up with their respective coaches or the Director of Sport for an appointment.

During away fixtures, injuries are handled in accordance with the guidance of the hosting school and our own policy. During a Saturday fixture, the decision of the medical professional or coach is final We ask that parents do not approach injuries unless invited

We take head injuries particularly seriously, and as such operate a graduated return to play protocol (GRTP) for any pupil diagnosed with a possible concussion. It is essential that parents report any head injuries that have been sustained by their child outside of school to the medical centre at PGS in order to start the GRTP process.

Please see the Management of Head Injuries Policy on the PGS website for full details

PGS SPORT CONTACTS

Director of Sport

Head of PE

Sports Administrator

Head of Rugby

Head of Netball

Head of Hockey

Assistant Head of Hockey

Head of Athletics

Head of Tennis

Head of Cricket

Head of Cricket Development

Head of Dance

Teacher of PE (& Head of Year 9)

Sports Coach

Mr Simon Copeland

Mr Andrew Seddon

Mrs Helen Grist

Mr Henno Venter

Miss Robyn Tourino

Mr Alex Leach

Mr Will Gammon

Miss Amy Chaplin

Mr Steve Hawkswell

Mr Scott Curwood

Mr Jon Ayling

Miss Jenni Turrill

Mrs Emily Seddon

Mr Robbie Allsopp

s copeland@pgs org uk

a.seddon@pgs.org.uk

h.grist@pgs.org.uk

h.venter@pgs.org.uk (starting in Sept 2023)

r.tourino@pgs.org.uk

a leach@pgs org uk

w.gammon@pgs.org.uk

a chaplin@pgs org uk

s.hawkswell@pgs.org.uk

s.curwood@pgs.org.uk

j.ayling@pgs.org.uk

j.turrill@pgs.org.uk

e seddon@pgs org uk

r.allsopp@pgs.org.uk

We very much look forward to welcoming you to the Hilsea Playing Fields to support our sports teams and enjoy our match day experience.

We do hope that your child enjoys their sporting opportunities and experiences, and works hard to maximise their development during their time at PGS.

With best wishes,

Simon Copeland Director of Sport

Document Reviewed June 2023