Our extensive Physical Education and Sports programme aims to develop children’s physical literacy by developing movement, communication, and thinking skills. Physical Education lessons take place once a week for every class. In addition, the PE programme is complemented by our afternoon in-class sports programmes.
Outdoor Education
Outdoor education features prominently in our curriculum at St Mark’s School. Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) is an opportunity for children to take measured risks, develop an open-mind and push themselves to try new things while extending their physical capabilities.
School camps take place for students in Years 4 to 7 and remain the highlight of the year for many students. Activities may include archery, bushcraft, tramping, mountain biking, sailing, sea-kayaking and a range of other learning opportunities designed to complement the PYP Learner Profile.
House Sports Competitions
Inter-House competitions take place in cross-country, athletics, and swimming during the year. These sports competitions are always well-supported and very hotly contested. Every child in the school has an opportunity to represent his or her house. The house spirit is evident at sports events through a sea of colour and imaginative house chants to spur on the competition!
From these annual school events, children are selected to compete in Central Zone sports, many of whom then go on to represent St Mark’s at the Interzone competitions. Further to this, our children are often represented at regional and national competitions.
Summer and Winter Codes
Year 5 to 8 children are offered a range of traditional sports in both summer and winter codes. In summer, this includes cricket, touch rugby and tennis. In winter, football, hockey and netball are offered. St Mark’s School plays fixtures in these sports against other private schools and teams. These fixtures take place every term, with summer codes in Terms 1 and 4, and winter codes in Terms 2 and 3.
Extra-Curricular Sports Options
We also offer a range of other extra-curricular sporting options where students can participate in weekly local competitions. Our children are encouraged to take part in different extra-curricular sporting activities, the focus of which is to have fun and practice a healthy and active lifestyle.
All sport and physical education at St Mark’s School is overseen by the Head of PSPE and Sport and is well-supported by parents and members of our learning community.
Opportunities are integrated into the Personal, Social and Physical Education programme to develop the IB Learner Profiles. Our students become Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective.
