Sport opportunities at Alban City School
Sport and physical activity is a very important aspect of our school offer and, although we may have more limited outdoor space than some schools, we strive to provide a wide variety of sporting experiences and opportunities for the children. We have a large PE hall with a vast range of equipment for games and gymnastics, and a netball court / tennis court marked out on our playground. We are also able to use the playing field in Normandy Road for sports fixtures, clubs and special events.
In Reception children have the opportunity to be physically active, both indoors and outside, every day during their child-led and adult-led learning. All children from Year 1 to Year 6 participate in two curriculum PE lessons a week. From Year 2 upwards, one of these lessons is taught by a specialist sports coach. In Year 5 the children also have swimming lessons for one term at a local pool with a swimming teacher, and top up swimming lessons are available in Year 6 too for children who need them.
We offer a wide variety of extra-curricular sports clubs for the children. Clubs we currently have available or have run in the past include netball, football, multisports, cricket, tag rugby, athletics, rounders, running, golf, street dance, yoga and tennis. Please see our clubs page for what is currently available, as this changes on a termly basis.
We actively participate in the St Albans leagues for football and netball, with children in Years 5 and 6 competing in netball and football fixtures. We have mixed gender A and B teams for netball and we have both boys and girls A and B football teams to provide opportunities for as many children as possible to participate in competitive sport. We also compete against other schools at festivals, District competitions and tournaments. We are able to provide the children with these sporting opportunities as we are part of the St Albans School Sports Partnership. Competitions we have taken part in include athletics, football, tag rugby, cricket, netball and cross country.
Music opportunities at Alban City School
We are delighted to offer a wide range of instrumental lessons on an individual basis that take place during the school day. The teachers operate a rota system for the lessons so that children do not miss the same curriculum time in their class every week.
Currently we offer individual lessons in piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and French horn. In addition to this, all the children in Year 3 are taught to play the recorder in their class music lesson. After school lessons are also available in guitar, drums and singing.
We also have a junior and senior orchestra and a choir, as well as opportunities for children to set up their own bands. We encourage a wide range of performance experiences, from children playing in front of their own class to wider school assemblies, concerts to parents and public performances in venues such as St Albans Cathedral and the city centre.
We believe in the importance of children hearing live music being performed too, so we take the children to concerts at local secondary schools and venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, as well as inviting professional musicians into school.
If you would like your child to learn to play an instrument, please contact our music teacher Karen Dore at the St Albans Music Academy Ltd: www.stalbansmusicacademy.co.uk email: info@stalbansmusicacademy.co.uk
We believe that all children should have the opportunity to enjoy learning an instrument and making music, either individually or as part of an ensemble, so we are happy to provide financial assistance to any child who is eligible for pupil premium funding. Please speak to the school office for more information.
Drama opportunities at Alban City School
We are very fortunate to have a 120 seat theatre and offer every child the opportunity to speak and perform to an audience on a stage. We believe that public speaking helps to develop children’s confidence and is an important life skill for the future. Children enjoy drama lessons with their class and regularly perform in plays, musicals and assemblies to other children and their parents.
We have an after school drama club with the Candice Conway Theatre School, and our pupils take part in their annual production with pupils from other schools.
We also offer LAMDA classes during the school day. LAMDA (founded 1861) is the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. It is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom and has a global reputation for excellence. LAMDA’s mission is to improve standards in communication through the spoken word, foster an appreciation of literature and support creative, intellectual and social development. LAMDA exams offer an ongoing measurement of progress in speech and drama. The LAMDA grades provide a framework to support a steady improvement in self-confidence, vocal and physical technique, and language awareness. The examinations are designed to equip students, whatever their age or aspirations, with a range of skills that will serve them throughout life. For more information, please email theatreschool@candiceconway.co.uk