Swimming
Lower School Curriculum
Swimming lessons are taught in a block during the year, the timing varies according to the year group. Two classes use the pool each session and these are divided into three ability groups.
Water confidence and the enjoyment of swimming are vital factors. Non-swimmers are kept in the shallow end, building up their confidence using floats and other swimming aids. Treading water, survival exercises and timed swims are used for the better swimmers while working on stroke technique. Front crawl and backstroke are taught first. Breaststroke is introduced later, followed by butterfly.
All age groups take part in the House Swimming Gala.
Upper School Curriculum
Swimming is undertaken in the first term in the Mill Hill School pool. Year 6 have a lesson each week (50 minutes). Years 7+8 have a course of lessons within their PE syllabus, which also contains Gymnastics & Dance. The pupils work hard on improving their stroke techniques in front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. Other water skills are practised like diving, picking up objects, handstands, forward and backward rolls, survival swimming and water polo. At the end of the term there is a House Swimming Gala (for as many pupils, parents and staff as can fit poolside!) and there are many cups and trophies presented at the Individual Swimming Event near the end of the Spring Term.
Curriculum enrichment for gifted or talented pupils in PE and Games is provided all the time by differentiation in lessons by use of open-ended tasks to stretch the pupils. The top percentage of pupils play in the A teams in their sports and some pupils join clubs outside of school. Where appropriate, the school may recommend pupils for county trials.
