There are many reasons why outdoor activities and sports are vital for children and young people in schools. For a start, this side of things makes a significant contribution to their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development, while at the same time fostering environmental awareness and an understanding of nature.
Not only that but getting outside and moving around provides a break from the classroom, while offering different learning opportunities and promoting engagement in a varied way.
Promoting Outdoor Activities & Sport
Outdoor play and activities encourage movement to help children develop gross motor skills through, for example, running and jumping. Meanwhile, other physical benefits include helping to maintain a healthy weight, building muscle strength, and general wellbeing.
A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and other health-related problems. Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People reported that just under half (47.8%) of youngsters meet the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of participating in an average minimum of one hour or more of sport and physical activity daily.
Then there are the mental health and well-being advantages of exercise, from stress reduction and mood improvement to better focus and concentration. Plus, active children are more resilient, with better social skills and emotional development, for example, in terms of confidence and self-esteem.
There is also researched to indicate that outdoor learning and activity boost students’ engagement, motivation, and performance academically and in the classroom. Skills such as teamwork and leadership develop, too.
Sport and Outdoor Education at St Joseph’s College
At St Joseph’s, we are fully aware of all the many mental and physical advantages to young people of sport. That is why, as well as having our excellent sporting facilities, we have a partnership with the University of Reading through which we use their amenities. And the university’s Sports Park is just steps from our school, so we take our students there from Year 7 onwards.
There is an Astro turf pitch where students can play hockey in teams of 11, plus two grass fields each for 11-a-side football and 15-a-side rugby. In addition, we use Reading’s indoor and outdoor tennis and netball courts and three five-a-side football pitches. (The latter are made from 3G or third-generation artificial turf, which closely mimics natural grass).
Finally, the university’s superb 37 m x 32 m Sports Hall fits up to eight badminton and two volleyball courts.
Our own facilities are also extensive, encompassing a multi-purpose sports field which we use for football, rugby, cricket, and athletics. Then there are our two all-weather pitches for hockey, football, netball, and tennis, and multi-skill activities, plus our netball area and gym – not to mention the heated indoor swimming pool.
Finally, we can also set up gym equipment in our prep hall when desks are moved away.
What St Joseph’s College Offer
Between Years 3 and 8, we offer all pupils swimming, gymnastics, athletics and football, while boys additionally have the option to do rugby and cricket and girls play hockey and netball.
From Years 9 to 13, there are matches in rugby, football and cricket for boys, hockey, football and netball for girls. We also offer sports such as badminton, volleyball and basketball and activities including CrossFit and Spinning (indoor cycling).
From Year 3 onwards, pupils play competitive matches against other local schools. Several represent their region or county at a sport, and we encourage this talent and commitment and believe in the teamwork and rivalry of healthy competition.
We also belong to the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA), Berkshire Rugby Football Union and the Independent Association of Prep Heads and The Society of Heads, so we enter several tournaments during the academic year.
Give your Child the Best Opportunity
Learn more about our sporting and outdoor education today. Get in touch to make an enquiry or register your child. We also hold regular Open Events and taster sessions throughout the year, giving you the ideal chance to learn more about our school and our high-quality school sporting facilities.
