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Physical Education

Physical Education and sport play a vital role in the life of High School of Dundee pupils.

Regular PE lessons are timetabled for all pupils up to and including Form 5, and are optional in Form 6.
As a department we seek to strike a balance between performance and participation, enabling us to allow our most able sportsmen to achieve excellence, whilst, at the same time, catering for the needs of all pupils. This is achieved through our three-pronged approach which consists of timetabled lessons, co-curricular activities and our High Performance Sports Programme.

Timetabled Lessons

Pupils from Nursery through to Form 6 are exposed to a broad and varied curriculum in Physical Education. We aim to raise confidence and ability and promote lifelong positive attitudes to physical activity through participation in a wide variety of challenging activities. As pupils move through the senior school there is an increase in pupil centred activity choice and in opportunities to fulfil a range of roles within the class. We are continually evolving our teaching methods and techniques. For instance, with the aid of iPads, personalised movement analysis is now far more accessible in PE classes.

The department has a very successful record in SQA examinations, presenting pupils at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.

Co-curricular Activities

All pupils are encouraged to participate in co-curricular sporting activities before/after school and at weekends, including regular fixtures in a variety of sports.  Between August and April our major sports are rugby, hockey and netball. During the summer term we focus on cricket, tennis and athletics. 
In addition, we offer an extensive programme of additional co-curricular activities. Currently this includes football, curling, fencing, strength and conditioning, karate, yoga and tennis.
Our specialists provide high quality coaching, bringing with them wide experience of playing and coaching at representative or international level. We pride ourselves on giving our pupils every encouragement to realise their full potential and this is supported by sports tours which widen the sporting and cultural experience of our pupils while concurrently creating team bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime. Tours have included Canada (rugby and hockey) Amsterdam (rugby), Belfast (hockey) South Africa (rugby, hockey and netball) and USA (hockey).

High Performance Sports Development Programme

We offer specialised programmes and mentoring for particularly talented athletes from Form 3 upwards. Utilising expert coaching and links to local universities we can provide tailor-made frameworks specific to each individual. Currently we run elite squad sessions in rugby, hockey and tennis whilst also supporting athletes involved in sports such as football, swimming, gymnastics and sailing.  As a school we have produced many age grade internationalists who have then gone on to represent their country at senior level. Our High Performance Sports Programme is designed to ensure this proud record continues. Find out more.

Facilities

The Physical Education Department is based within our facilities at Mayfield and Dalnacraig. Indoor facilities include a large games hall, gymnasium, dance studio, fitness suite and newly refurbished strength and conditioning gym. Outdoors we have two FIA standard astroturf hockey pitches (one water and one sand based), which can also be transformed into nine tennis courts.  In addition, we have five rugby pitches, which are transformed into athletics and cricket fields in the summer term.