In Summer '07 seven pupils in KS4 experienced a day sailing on Derwent Reservoir. The outdoor education provider, WinG arranged instructors for the day. Everyone had a fantastic time learning new skills, working together and building confidence. Some pupils are hoping to take their RYA Level 1 qualification in sailing or power boating next summer.
Lee Lamb, British Men's Kata Champion '06 and owner of Kensho Karate club, Bensham has taught KS4 pupils for one hour a week for the past two years. The pupils have flourished under Lee's expert tuition and two pupils are at present preparing to attend their first grading to hopefully move from white belt to 9th Kyu - orange belt.
Pupils from Hill Top School paricipated in a special needs basketball festival in Sunderland. This extremely successful event was organised and hosted by Castlegreen School.
Another excellent day of sports coaching and competition was held at Gateshead Intdrnational Stadium on Wednesday 7/12/05. 93 girls from specialist schools across the north east attended a netball activity day that was staffed by the Gateshead sports development team.
These activity days for girls are providing a sporting experience for SEN girls in an friendly environment where they can make friends, express themselves and practice their skills in a non threatening situation.
The activities are open to all girls 8 - 18 years of age who have SEN and would benefit from the experience of a sporting environment. The next activity is the always popular dance day on 8th February 2006, Gateshead International Stadium from 10 - 2pm. Newcomers and mainstream schools with SEN girls are always most welcome
The Wanderers Sports Association exists to provide (mainly) competetive sporting opportunities for boys and girls with Special Educational Needs in the Tyneside and Northumberland area. More than 20 Special Schools are involved annually. Hill Top School plays an active part in all activities and we look forward to participating and succeeding in all sports once again this year. Gateshead is also well represented by Furrowfield School.
Events / festials for the the current year are as follows:-
Soccer - 5 - a-side Wednesday 5th October and 8th March at John Spence Community College, Tynemouth
Basketball - Wednesday November 30th at John Spence Community College
Swimming - Wednesday 1st February, Tynemouth Pool
Cross Country - Tuesday 28th / Wednesday 29th March, Girls / Boys at Watergate Park, Gateshead
Athletics - Wednesday 14th June at Monkton Stadium, Jarrow
Individual schools often arrange sports events amongst themselves and there is a thriving sporting committment within the special schools that covers a wide range of activities.
Girlsport(UK) will be organising sporting activity days for girls across the region once again this academic year.
The events will be held at Gateshead International Stadium From 10am - 2pm. We would like tyo see as many girls as possible participating in theses very popular events. The initiative exist to provide sporting and social opportunities for girls with Special Educational Needs. We would welcome girls from mainstream and special schools whom staff feel would benefit fron the type of activities on offer. The age range is approximately 8 - 18 years.The girls require to be appropriately dressed for the activities and provide a packed lunch. The activities will take place in an appropriate environment that generally depends on the weather. The format of the days is to offer a sports coacing session in the morning and differentiated competition, if appropriate, in the afternoon.
Dates for year 2005 - 06
19th October - rugby
7th December - netball
15th February - dance / aerobics
5th April - soccer
24th May - athletics
Further information can be obtained from Jim Dawson, Hill Top School,
01914692462.
+44781458621
The build up to sports day is in full swing with each of our three houses - Armstrong, Bede and Collingwood - competing fiercely to gain as many points as possible prior to the main event at Gateshead International Stadium on 13th July. To date we have had competitions in wall cricket, non stop cricket, shot put, discus, javelin, golf and boules. The race for the championship is very close at present and the winners of the Inter House Trophy for 2005 will be announced at our sports presentation on 19th of July.
Mrs Aitken and Mr White took a group of pupils to Lords Cricket Ground for the National Table Cricket Championships. Hill Top School was invited this year to play a demonstration game of Target Cricket at the finals. This new version of table cricket is designed specifically for children with learning problems rather than physical diabilities. Needless to say the children did us proud, months of practice paid off and Hill Top won by 226 runs - 225. Pupils and staff stayed two nights at Stoke Mandeville and the visit turned into a wonderful social and educational experience. Many thanks to Hill Top School PTA for helping to fund our trip.
Many schools (several entering mixed gender teams) from all over the region met at Northumbria University's Coach Lane sports centre today to compete in this festival which was organised by Northumberland Football Association. As a special attraction at lunchtime, pupils from Percy Hedley School gave us an excellent display of wheelchair football. All pupils participating in the soccer festival were presented with a certificate as a reminder of a memorable day. Many thanks to NFA from staff and pupils of Hill Top School for a well organised and thoroughly enjoyable day.
The annual athletics meet at Monkton Stadium attracted large numbers of schools from all over the area. Boys and girls were involved in under 11, under 14 and under 16 events.
Hill Top provided teams in under 14 and under 16 boys and girls categories. Our junior girls team came out tops overall beating 8 other school to lift the team trophy. Senior boys finished an excellent second and were denied the under 16 trophy by one point in a category that had 11 teams entered. Junior boys finished 5th from 10 whilst senior girls finished 5th from 8.
An excellent day of sport was had by all competitors and staff and every competitor from Hill Top finished in a medal position in at least one event.
Girlsport (UK) is an initiative, now in its fourth year, that seeks to provide sporting / social opportunities for girls with SEN. Five activity days are planned each year with the assistance of Gateshead sports development services, Gateshead International Stadium and NIKE.
The initiative has provided sporting opportunities through activity days in rugby, soccer, dance, hockey, basketball, athletics and netball. These days are very popular with pupils and staff and have attracted schools from Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham. Some events have had in excess of 140 participants from 14 different schools in one day.
The events are open to girls between 8 and 18 years who have learning difficulties regardless of whether they attend special or mainstream schools.
The programme for 2005 - 06 will be available before end of Summer term. Intertested parties should contact jim dawson at Hill Top School to be added to mailing list.
tel: 01914692462
email: jimcarolfelton@aol.com
Girlsport (UK) athletics activity day
Gatehead international stadium 23rd May 2005
Portland School / Hill Top school sports fun day
Potland school, Sunderland, 24th May 2005
Wanderers Association Athletics meeting
Monkton Stadium, Jarrow 8th June 2005
Disability soccer festival
Whitley Park, Newcastle 9th June 2005
Youth Games Sunderland 18th June 2005
Hill Top School wil send teams to represent gateshead in boccia, table cricket, netball, soccer,
Hill Top will represent our region again in the
National Table Cricket Finals
at Lords Cricket Ground, London 21st June
Hill Top Schooll Sports Day
Gateshead International Stadium Wednesday 13th July 10:30 - 2:30