Physical Education

The aim of Physical Education at Central High is to provide every girl with the opportunity to:   

• Learn new skills
• Encourage participation and learn new skills
• Develop existing skills to high standard.
• Take part in a broad range of activities
• Develop fitness levels
• Have fun 
• Find a sport or activity they really enjoy and pursue in extra curricular time.

Curriculum for Years 7-11
All pupils from Years 7-11 are taught netball, hockey, athletics, tennis, and rounders.

In addition to this Year 7 and 8 take part in swimming, gymnastics, dance and health related fitness.  We use RGS and city pool for swimming lessons. 

The curriculum begins to broaden in Year 9 with the addition of volleyball, badminton and circuit training.

In Year 10, basketball and football are added to the list in single lessons. Both Year 10's and 11's are given an option unit for two  half terms.  Girls can choose to go to Eldon Leisure to take part in climbing, fitness training in the gym, aerobics or squash. On offer at school is boxercise with a personal lifestyle trainer, football with coaches from the development scheme or even rugby with staff members of Newcastle Falcons.

Teaching of games is skill based in the earliest stages, developing understanding through small games, building up to full competitive games.  Gymnastics and dance give girls the opportunity to work creatively usually in small groups.  Basic skills are taught, but tasks tend to be open ended to allow a variety of creative ideas.  Videos of performances help girls develop their critical appreciation and analytical responses.

AS (OCR) Physical Education
We are currently in our third year of running AS Physical Education, so far we have achieved excellent results (all grade A passes), with the girls enjoying the course.

Components include: - Anatomy and Physiology - Skill Acquisition - Contemporary Studies - Personal Performance Portfolio.

Extra Curricular
The array of clubs and teams which operate in extra curricular time will be hard to beat anywhere! From katrate to cross country, trampolining to table tennis and athletics to aerobics, we've pretty much got it covered! Clubs take place before school, at lunchtime and after school.
 
Every girl is able to attend the clubs for her year group.  Selection takes place for some practices, but there will always be a 'recreational' practice that is open to all.  There are teams for netball, hockey, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table-tennis, rounders, tennis, squash, swimming, trampolining, athletics, and cross country.  We also operate clubs in gymnastics, aerobics and karate. Hopefully something for everyone!   Please click here to see our current programme.

Accomplishments
Some of our teams are REALLY SUCCESSFUL!
  
In 2005:
           - National Under 1 Tennis Team Runners Up
           - National Finalists in Squash
           - National Finalist in Athletics
           - National Finalist in Cross Country
           - National Finalist in Netball
           - National Finalist in Under 18 Aberdare Cup Tennis
           - Under 13 Trust Athletics Champions
           - Under 15 Trust Athletics Champions
           - Senior Trust Athletics Champions
           - Overall Trust Athletics Champions

Central High has represented Newcastle at the English Schools Track and Field Championships when 12 girls were selected as the medal presentation team, helping Jonathan Edwards award medals to the national champions.

In 2006:

          - Under 15 Trust Netball Champions
  
We play sports against all the other Trust Schools, involving many overnight stays around the country.

Locally most of our A teams are unbeaten at netball and the hockey teams are also very successful.   We are City Champions at all age groups in atheltics and bar one in cross county.  The tennis teams also perform to a high standard in both rated and unrated competitons.   Tennis coaching is provided throughout the year to selected pupils

Fun with the Falcons
Netball takes on a new turn when we play Newcastle Falcons in this game of skill, agility, and manual dexterity........needless to say the girls usually win, but the rugby players always seem to suit their skirts better!

Central High on Tour
In 2005 we headed off to AUSTRALIA!!!! In a tremendously successful tour 45 girls and 5 staff visited Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and the Barrier Reef.  We played seven Australian schools, at netball and hockey and we hope that this will be the first of many overseas tours.  We have three ski trips a year with other local independent schools, visiting the French, Italian and Austrian Alps.  The trips are always popular and oversubscribed.

House Competitions
These add another layer of competition and another opportunity for girls to play on a competitive level in rounders, swimming, athletics, cross country, netball, badminton, table tennis, hockey and volleyball.

We offer something for everyone; loads of opportunities, loads of fun and loads of new friends!