FROM THE SKI SLOPES TO BBC BREAKFAST: ANOTHER BUSY TERM FOR CHS' PE DEPARTMENT

From the ski slopes to BBC Breakfast: another busy term for the PE department

 

“What hasn’t happened this term” the PE department said when reflecting back on another busy and successful term for Congleton High School. Skiing, netball, indoor rowing, indoor athletics, rugby, football, table tennis and even ‘footgolf’ feature in this term’s round-up!

Last month forty students, of varying degrees of ability and experience, enjoyed another highly successful ski-training course at France’s second oldest ski resort, Les Deux Alpes. The students endured challenging conditions, with the French weather being as unpredictable as the English, seeing rain and temperatures as high as 14 centigrade. This did not, however, dampen the students’ spirits, in fact it added to the experience, with every student advancing their skills while having great fun! Planning is already underway for next year’s trip (see Mr Naylor for a letter).

From the ski slopes of Les Deux Alpes to the netball courts of South Cheshire, students have flown the CHS flag proudly. And CHS’ netballers have every reason to look back on this term with pride as the sport continues to go from strength to strength at CHS. Moving leagues was always going to provide a greater challenge for the students and this was clear from the first round of fixtures. However, all of CHS’ teams look set to be promoted to the ‘A’ league next season heading into the final round of games. CHS have continued their domination in the knockout tournaments too, with year 9, year 8a and year 7a and b teams all being crowned South Cheshire champions this term.

The PE department are always looking for ways to widen the sport provision at the school and a few years ago they added indoor rowing to the school’s endless list of sports. The sport has not only seen high levels of participation, but also plenty of success and this term was no different. All of the teams won the level 2 competition at Sandbach and progressed to the Cheshire and Warrington competition at Ellesmere Port Sports Village. The students all did extremely well finishing runner-up in each of the four categories, while there were stand-out performances by year 10 student Megan Sheard and year 11 Ramtin Musah who both won their respective categories.

In indoor athletics, the year 7 girls team represented the Sandbach Partnership at the School Games at the Northgate Arena in Chester after winning the level 2 event, while the year 8 girls finished runners-up in the level 2 event.

Rugby has been under the media spotlight in recent weeks and not just because England completed their first Grand Slam since 2003. There have been calls for a change in the way that rugby is played at school, with doctors and academics calling for tackling to be banned. CHS’ staff and students expressed their views on the topic across various BBC platforms, including on BBC Breakfast and Newsround, and opposed changing the sport in schools. On the pitch, the year 7 and 8 boys’ rugby teams finished as runners-up in the North Staffordshire Schools Tournament, while year 7 won three of their five games in the emerging school rugby tournament.

In football, Congleton College have continued what can only be described as a mixed debut season, with a 2-2 draw against Stockport College and a 7-3 defeat to Knutsford Academy in their latest games. And with two games left against Wellacre and Elite Academy they will be hoping to finish the season strongly. Elsewhere, year 8 have a cup final to look forward to next month as they hope to add to CHS’ trophy cabinet with the South Cheshire Cup.

This term has also seen CHS’ fourth annual table tennis championships get underway. Over 100 students and staff have been going head-to-head in the opening rounds of the tournament, with a high standard of skill and talent on display. James Garside is targeting a third successive title, while Mr de Souza will be hoping to repeat his 2013 success and seek revenge after losing to James in the last two finals.

The community is also a vital part of CHS and this term has seen the school host a series of sports tournaments with the schools partner primary schools taking part. Quinta Primary School triumphed in the hockey tournament, while Black Firs won both the year 3/4 Brilliant Advice Football Tournament and the first ever year 1/2 sports hall athletics competition.

Finally, year 12 BTEC Sport students tried out the new ‘FootGolf’ course at Burnage Rugby Club. There were a range of techniques on show, but not all orthodox!

Written by Adam Bailey