We are very fortunate at the School to have a number of pupils performing at a high level in a variety of different sports. Run by our Head of Elite Sport, former Scottish rugby internationalist Phil Godman, the HPS Programme provides the platform to take these athletes to the next level in their chosen sport.
The Programme is designed to accommodate any type of elite athlete, no matter the sport. In recent times these sports have included rugby, hockey, football, swimming, athletics and sailing.
A number of our former pupils have gone on to excel at the very upper reaches of sport, such as Commonwealth Games gold medalist Eilish McColgan, Scotland rugby union internationalists Zander Fagerson, Matt Fagerson, Richie Vernon, Alasdair Dickinson, Jonny Petrie and Andy Nicol, Olympic skier Charlie Guest, and current Scottish rugby union internationalist, Shona Campbell. Many of our former pupils have also gone on to enjoy successful sporting careers at professional and amateur level.
The goal of the HPS Programme is to give pupils who have the ambition to follow in these footsteps and go as far as they can in their sport, the tools and expert guidance to make that possible.
The programme focuses on how to improve sports performance and the athlete’s overall sport/life balance. The pressure of juggling academic work and sporting commitments can at times feel very challenging. Bespoke timetabled plans will be put in place for each athlete to ensure they are getting the right mix of training, academic work and rest time.
In addition, a partnership with Abertay University allows pupils access to state of the art facilities and assistance from their expert staff.
Pupils who are part of the Programme have the opportunity to take advantage of high-tech fitness testing which provides invaluable feedback for improving their physical performance.
Our Head of Hockey, Linda Anderson, runs specialist skills sessions with the HPS hockey players. Linda was capped an incredible 242 times for her country, as well as representing Great Britain. She is supported by a number of top class coaches, including another former internationalist and GB player Louise Baxter.
Head of Rugby, Phil Godman, former Scotland stand-off, runs specialist skills sessions for the HPS rugby players. Colin Sangster, who is one of only a handful of coaches in Scotland to have a Level 4 coaching qualification, supports him.
We also have access to a number of high-end coaches across different sports. In tennis, for example, we have elite coaching sessions at David Lloyd before school, taken by a Level 3 professional coach.
Sports Psychology is a huge factor in the success of top athletes around the world, in individual and team sports. Our Sports Psychologist helps with the mental well-being of our athletes, as well as looking at the mental and emotional factors that can affect sports performance.
Guest speakers are invited to the school to speak to the HPS athletes.
This provides an excellent opportunity for the young athletes to find out what it takes to achieve success at higher levels and the inevitable obstacles along the way.
Top athletes are continually evolving and getting fitter, faster and stronger. We have a strength and conditioning (S&C) coach available to all our athletes to ensure we are preparing them physically, as well as mentally, to perform at the top of their game. We also look at nutrition, core strength, flexibility and injury prevention exercises; no stone is unturned in the pursuit of excellence. Our S&C coach develops programmes that work for each individual and will be specific to their own sport.
To be eligible you must have played your sport at national or district level, or have the potential to do so.
The programme is offered as an option within the subject preference process undertaken for F3, F5 and F6. Support for high performance athletes is also available for those pupils unable to opt for HPSP as part of their timetable.
Other factors will be taken into account such as the individual’s attitude, willingness to learn and feedback from other coaches, both within the school and outside of the school.
The High School of Dundee is a charity, registered in Scotland under the following nomenclature: Corporation of The High School of Dundee (SC011522), High School of Dundee Foundation (SC030842) and High School of Dundee Scholarship Fund (SC011441)
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