Sports College

Palatine was designated as a Specialist Sports College in September 2004. Our bid to become a Sports College was successful due to our rigorous yet imaginative plans for working in the field of PE, Sport and Leisure Activity not just in school but also within the local community. The guiding principle underlying the process is one of partnership between the Government, the school and the local community. On its part the Government provides Palatine with a significantly increased level of funding – in effect £100,000 towards a major building project and £125,000 per year for four years. On its side, Palatine has to meet agreed targets through a School Plan and a Community Plan.

School Plan

1. To develop a KS2 into KS3 curriculum that improves continuity and accelerates progression and transition from KS2.
2. To raise standards of attainment in Physical Education at KS3 and KS4
3. To develop ICT as a teaching and learning aid in P E and across the curriculum
4. To provide diversity of opportunity to accommodate the needs of targeted groups of pupils within Physical Education.
5. To provide a planned programme of Out of Hours Learning which offers breadth and balance for all pupils and enriches the curriculum.
6. To extend the range of sporting opportunities to maximise the use of the new facilities.
7. To enhance and develop the opportunities of the 14 - 19 curriculum.
8. To devise a system of re-employment of Palatine pupils following a PE/Sport post 16 course in curriculum time and Out of Hours Learning.

Community Plan

1. To contribute to the development of a high quality physical education experience for pupils in our partner primary schools.
2. To support and extend the sporting opportunities for targeted groups of pupils in our partner secondary school and FE college.
3. To widen the Out of Hours Learning opportunities available to our family of schools.
4. To promote sport as a vehicle for engaging disaffected young men.
5. To increase participation and retention rates of women in sport and leisure.

So how has Palatine gone about meeting these targets?

We are working closely with our Junior School colleagues and the PE Advisor to draw up a common assessment programme so we know children’s strengths and weaknesses when they join us.

Our internal and external results have improved significantly and are continuing to do so.

Both disaffected students and also the most able are benefiting from specialised programmes - Badminton for the Gifted and Talented, Outdoor Pursuits for both groups, for example.

Two new courses have now been introduced – a BTEC National Diploma in Sport and an Awards course which is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career in the Sport and Leisure industry which includes both the Junior and Community Sports Leaders Awards.

Former students have gone on to work in local Sports Centres, pursued degrees and other qualifications in Sport and Physical Activity and indeed have returned to work within the PE Department at Palatine.

We are working very closely with our “family of schools” - Revoe, Thames, Waterloo, Hawes Side, Park and Highfield both within PE lessons and in out-of-school activities to broaden their range of sports. These include dance, gymnastics, basketball, orienteering, playground games, climbing, golf and horseriding.

In addition to working with disaffected students in school, we also cater for a similar group within the community. In conjunction with the Blackpool Youth service weekly evening sessions are held around a sporting theme. Similarly expeditions to Scotland, the Lake District and Wales are well supported. We are further committed to provide a range of activities that promote women participating in sport. Targeted fitness sessions for girls take place weekly and link in with local and national events.

The Capital Project

All PE activities are based in the Palatine Leisure Centre located next to the school. This £6.5 million project was the result of a partnership between the school and the Blackpool Borough Council. In addition to daytime usage of the Sports Hall, the school has extensive access to the Pool, Fitness Room and Aerobics Studio. It was decided to use monies from the Sports College Grant to fund the provision of an IT/Meeting Room facility within the Centre. This room is used as a classroom with 20 computers, projector and interactive whiteboard for the delivery of GCSE PE/Sports Science lessons during the day and a meeting room for sports groups and training sessions at other times. Money was also made available towards the Wellness Fitness System within the Fitness Room which allows students to devise their own programmes and record the results flowing from them.

Sponsorship money was provided by the Blackpool Badminton Association, Blackpool Swimming Club, Newton Hall Swimming Club, Blackpool and Fylde Athletic Club, Blackpool Table Tennis Club, Blackpool Community Sports Council and Clarus Computing.

Out-of-Hours Learning

Swimming clubs, Aqua aerobics, Trampolining, Gymnastics , Netball, Badminton, Hockey , Football , Basketball, Table Tennis, Dance, Fitness, Cup Stacking, Vaulting, Fitness, Cricket, Rounders, Rugby, Athletics, Jogging, Tennis, Trekking, Climbing, Canoeing, Horse riding, Golf, Life saving