Collaboration between Dunottar and St. John’s School

Since January, Dunottar’s sports department has welcomed sixty Year 3 pupils to play hockey, do gymnastics in its sports hall and have swimming lessons. This was the first of weekly P.E. sessions and, after Easter, the youngsters had the opportunity to burn off more energy with summer sports activities in the school’s extensive grounds.

Under the supervision of Simon Manning, Dunottar’s Head of Boys’ Sport and Assistant Head of Lower School, around ten sixth formers helped to facilitate activities that were led by St. John’s teaching staff. This experience enabled the sixth formers to complete a sports leaders’ enrichment programme, which was launched at Dunottar earlier in the year.

In addition, GCSE P.E. students have been helping to organise activities. This has directly contributed to their GCSE and developed their leadership and coaching skills.

Simon Manning, head of boys’ P.E., commented: “It’s a win-win situation for both schools. Our sixth formers and GCSE students are gaining useful leadership experience, and everyone enjoys the sessions.”

Rowena Cole, Head teacher of Dunottar School, added: “I have always wanted Dunottar to make a real contribution to the wider Reigate community; this collaboration is a perfect opportunity. We are incredibly fortunate to have excellent sporting facilities, and it fantastic to be able to share not only these but also the expertise of our sports department and the enthusiasm of our pupils with the pupils at St John’s. I hope that this is a collaboration that will continue for many years.”

The collaboration between the two schools arose from conversations at Dunottar’s first Aquathlon in December of last year, at which pupils from local junior and preparatory schools were invited to compete in the swimming and running competition.

Head teacher of St. John’s Primary School, Mrs Jan Steel, said: “We are always looking for ways to enhance our opportunities for PE and Games at St John’s, actively searching out exciting ways to deliver the full PE curriculum. We are really pleased to be able to use the fantastic swimming, gym and games facilities at Dunottar and are keen to develop the Partnership between our schools.  It is great to see the older and younger students working together, supporting PE development and enabling sports achievement at St John’s to reach an all-time high.”