sporty kids

[Mousie]

not really a gifted and talented thing but i didn't know where else to post.

my ds is very sporty, very fast - anyone know how to find out about academy schools (state ones) that are going to have sport as their bias.
we are trying to decide where to move to out of london and i want a good state school with a sports bias really (the thing most parents don't want..)

This certainly is a G & T issue. If you can get him declared officially G & T with regard to sport, you will be in a better position to find out what is on offer.

Also look on Osted to find out which schools are sports specialists - it's bound to be listed there.

The other place to try is your local athletics clubs. Most have a children's team. If you live in the country try The Fell Running Association.

Lots of schools have great PE departments. Some sports colleges are not all that good. What sport is he most interested in? The department may not specialise in a particular sport. You dont have to officially register him as being G+T, it plays no advantage. What are you looking for within the PE department. What area are you most interested in?

tbh you're probably better off concentrating on finding a really good athletics club with lots of experience with kids of your ds' age

ime the standard of sport in most schools, even specialist sports colleges, isn't anything like as high as out of school clubs

my ds is a swimmer - his school has a pool and he's a member of the swimming squad but the training he does at school is nothing compared to the training he does at his club - I'd assume it'd be the same for athletics too

thanks all

speed things - football, rugby, running. he is young so i don't really want to be too overzealous at thsi stage and obviously enjoyment is paramount..

and take point about athletics/ specialist clubs rather than school PE departments.

sister has dyspraxia and is not co ordinated at all - but runs like the wind and has huge stamina. so both of them fast very basically.... and that's it...

Find a running club.

Schools that are sports colleges tend to have chosen that specialism because (ahem) they don't have that much else going for them. Hideous overgeneralisation, but I really wouldn't.

There are loads of running clubs up and down the country -- try the Runners' World site for info.

My DS goes to a state boarding school as a day boy. They are mad keen on sport - probably in part because it is a good way to keep the lads occupied [imagine trying to cope 24 hours a day with a House full of testosterone-fuelled teenagers].
To get a place on sports merit you need to be talking County level ability. Which gets us back to joining local Clubs to get to that standard in the first place.

I agree with looking for good clubs.
DS is exceptional at ball sports - anything with a bat or racquet or club ... he love soccer too but is better with his hands than his feet. He plays tennis twice a week (recently came second in a doubles tournament against 11 and 12 year olds and he is 8) and plays cricket in the summer (Aus season just starting now and he will be playing for the U11s, training twice a week, match on a Wednesday night) and soccer in the winter. The fact there isn't a huge amount of sport at school doesn't bother me. If I was working full time that may be an issue as at the moment I can take him to all those things after school. If he didn't want to do it I wouldn't make him though.
I think it is important to encourage an 'all rounder' attitude ... he works hard at school too.

I've heard good things about Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne in Kent - they are a sepecialist sports college. Don't know it personally, though, but I know two very talented swimmers who go there.

I would agree - look for a sports club and let your son enjoy his sport. My dd is very talented in her chosen sport (which I am not going to reveal as she could easily be identified by it) and she knows others who have gone into Team GB, etc. My dd wants also to be in the senior GB squad, and is already competing at national level (but is a bit of a tiddler still). However, the pressure is immense at that level and I don't always feel comfortable with it, although she is very keen and enthusiastic.

Why not just let him enjoy running or whatever in a good local club. He will enjoy it and make lots of social contacts. If he competes and is good enough, then he will be spotted and encouraged onwards and upwards - at which point you may wish that you had never encouraged him at all!!!

If money were no object I'd say Millfield

In our area (South Cambs) schools with specialist sports status are no better at sport than schools with other specialist status. Independent schools generally offer a great deal more sports - particularly those that have boarding as well as day pupils. There are many sports scholarships available.

Mousie, I think Piffle's son goes to a good state grammar in Lincs with a sports specialism. Her ds isn't especially sporty, but she might know if it's really good & worthwhile for sporty kids or if it just uses the specilaism to get extra funding.