The Bath Chronicle

Tuesday April 27th 2004

Youngsters fit in mind and body

POSITIVE IMPACT: excercise has many benefits for Batheaston pupils

By Kevin Burchall

Pictures by Clare Green

Sport at Batheaston Primary School is not only having a positive effect on children's health, it also plays a significant role in the classroom.

The school has adopted the revolutionary initiative Class Fit, which sees pupils spend seven minutes of every lunchtime performing a well-practiced routine with extraordinary results.

Cricket "The routine incorporates research into BrainGym where certain physical exercises have been found to improve bilateral brain function," explained PE co-ordinator Claire Wall.

"It's had a fantastic impact because not only are the children involved in a healthy exercise routine, teachers have said pupils are a lot calmer and more focused in their afternoon lessons."

Batheaston's innovative approach to sport does not stop there. The school ensures that sport is inclusive to all pupils with an ethos that every pupil has an opportunity to participate in as many different activities as possible.

Classes from reception right up to Year 6 benefit from a wide ranging PE curriculum, which encompasses sports from cricket to gymnastics and dance to orienteering. The importance of sportmanship is also a vital component in the way sport is delivered in the school and encouragement and other positive behaviours are rewarded through a group points and stickers system.

"It is our belief that children should enjoy sport no matter how good the individual is and as a result we celebrate that," added Wall. "For example, the football team stand up in assembly after every game whether they have lost or won and talk about which team member showed particular determination or the most team work."

Ready for a cricket match "We are also doing a similar scheme with our athletics club where children will work towards gaining badges and all children at the school work towards their 25 metres swimming badge."

The spirit of fair play and togetherness will be futher emphasised this coming term when pupils will base their annual spots day on the theme of the Athens Olympics.

"We have done a similar thing before but with it being Olympic year we thought it would give it more of a focus if we linked in the day with geography lessons."

Ball skills "Each class will be given a country to learn about and they will make a big flag to use in a pre-Olympics opening ceremony before spots day. Year 6 children will also help to light an Olympic torch."

Batheaston also hold a non-competitive sports day as well where mixed-age teams rotate around games and activities with the winning team being the one with the best teamwork, greatest spirit and the most mutual support.

A vast number of lunchtime and after-school clubs are also held at the school with junior and infant football, netball, running, table tennis and cricket led by qualified Somerset County Cricket coach, Gregg Brown.

Practicing movement "The children love having the coaches coming in to teach them and the teachers at the school also gain a great deal as it is a good opportunity for them to pick up tips and ideas from an expert in a particular sport," added Wall.

Batheaston regularly participates in sporting festivals such as tennis and rugby, while a team of promising Year 5 pupils took part in this year's basketball tournament at Bath Leisure Center and a group of Year 4 children are set to participate in the upcoming gym festival.

A mixed football team, including seven girls, has also highlighted the inclusive nature of the school and they regularly compete against all-boy teams.

Cricket The Huff and Puff initiative is also in full swing at the school with each class having one day a week to use a range of equipment to help them enjoy an active, healthy lunchtime.

And with the school having also recently applied to gain the Football Association Charter Standard, it is not hard to see that Batheaston is a sporting school on the up.