Don Valley Academy

The first half term proved very successful for our football and rugby teams. In football, our Y7 and Y10 teams are still in the English Schools Cup with 3rd round fixtures to follow shortly. Y10 are due to play South Axholme School this week.

The Y9 had a very successful 1st round win against The Kingstone School with some of our other age groups still to play. Our girls played their first fixtures against Campsmount which had a great deal of positive performances.

In rugby, our Y10 and Y11 teams finished 3rd in the South Yorkshire Competition which unfortunately didn’t secure them a place in the Yorkshire Cup. Our Y9 however, won the South Yorkshire Cup, conceding only 1 try all evening. We look forward to a successful run in the Yorkshire Cup over the coming weeks.

As we have now entered the winter season the boys will be focusing on basketball and table tennis matches whilst the girls continue to gain interest in the trampolining, dance and fitness classes they are running.

Just 4 weeks into the new academic year and we have already recorded a number of impressive results.

Our Y7, Y8, Y10, Y11 and 6th form boys football teams have progressed into round 2 of the English Schools competition.

Progress has also been made by our Y10 team in the South Yorkshire Cup.

The Y10 and Y11 rugby teams both finished 3rd in the South Yorkshire cup competitions which means they just miss out on a place in the Yorkshire Cup. This should be improved by our Y9 team tomorrow!!

With a lot more fixtures to come over the next few weeks we look forward to continued success.

After reaching the football finals, our Y8, 9 and 6th form teams were unable to seal victory with the Y8 losing 3-2, Y9 losing 4-2 and the 6th form lads losing 5-1 against a very strong Balby Carr team.

With the cricket season underway the Year 7 team remain unbeaten and the Y10 team are due to play Trinity in the 3rd round of the Yorkshire Cup.

The girls rounders competitions are eagerly anticipated and are due to take place over the next few weeks.

In the recent Doncaster Athletics Trials 3 of our students were successful in gaining a position in the squad with the performnace of the day coming from our Y9 100m sprinter who finished in 11.48s.

We have also recently started a scuba diving course and this will allow 18 of our students to complete their open water diving course.

Well done to all those involved.

Congratulations to all our Year 8, 9 and 6th for football teams as they have all reached the Doncaster football finals. The Year 9 team were unbeaten in their 7 league matches whilst the Year 8s only lost 1 game in their league.

The Year 8 and 9 finals are due to be held at Balby Carr later this month and the 6th form final is to be held at the Keepmoat Stadium early in May. Good luck to all those involved.

Next term will get off to a busy start as we enter the cricket, rounders and athletics season. Lets hope the boys and girls can replicate the successes they have had throughout this year.

The Doncaster Futsal competiton throughout February proved very successful for our U14 and U16 teams. Both teams won this event and now play in the South Yorkshire competiton in Sheffield on 16th May. The U11 team were unfortunate in losing in the final of the same event.

The 11-a-side football season is in full swing again and the Don Valley teams have started well.

The 6th form team managed to triumph over a strong Trinity team on penalties in the Semi-final of the Doncaster Cup and look forward to a tough challenge against Balby Carr in the final. This game will be held at the Keepmoat Stadium during the first week of May.

All of our teams (Y7 to Y10) have played their first 3 fixtures in the Doncaster Champions League. The results so far are:

Well done to all of the lads involved as they look to progress to the Doncaster finals.

The rugby season also kicks off again next week as the Year 9 team attempt to win the Doncaster Cup for the 4th year in a row. Year 8 and Year 7 also enter this competiton in the coming weeks with high expectations of both teams.

We also have the South Yorkshire Indoor athletics competiton to look forward to next week as the Year 7 and Year 8 boys get to challenge themselves against the most talented athletes in South Yorkshire.

Good luck to all those involved in upcoming events.

Lessons per week – 3 lessons
Award
Double
Assessment
Coursework

The Background
The Edexcel Level 2 BTEC First Certificate in Sport is a 2 Year qualification that offers a bite-sized opportunity for learners to experience a vocational qualification. The BTEC First Certificate offers a focused qualification for learners who wish to follow a programme of study related to an aspect of employment that they might wish to move into. This will also enable learners to progress to a higher level qualification relevant to Sport in 6th Form or College.

What’s Involved
The Edexcel Level 2 BTEC First Certificate in Sport consists of three units that provide for a combined total of 180 guided learning hours for the completed qualification. The course will receive three periods of study each week, with a mixture of practical and theory lessons used as modes of delivery. There will be a range of opportunities to develop key skills and acquire a broad knowledge and understanding of Sporting topics. Students will be expected to use a variety of sources in their work and will learn to work both individually and as part of a team. It is expected that students will complete both work in school and at home throughout the course in order to reach their potential.

The Assessment
The assessment approach of the BTEC First in Sport allows for learners to receive feedback on their progress throughout the course through a number of assignments that provide evidence towards the grading criteria. Evidence for assessment may be generated through a range of diverse activities including written tasks, workplace assessment, role play, video evidence and oral presentation. Learners will be encouraged to take more responsibility for their own learning and achievement.

There are no examinations in this subject and assessment grades are based upon a Pass, Merit and Distinction system, which is then converted into points equivalent to GCSE grades.

If students fail to meet the standards required to achieve a minimum of a Pass grade in any of their assignments over 2 years they will fail the course as a whole and therefore gain no qualification in this subject.

The BTEC Certificate attracts the same points as TWO GCSEs at A* – C.

PASS = 2 GCSE ‘C’ grades
MERIT = 2 GCSE ‘B’ grades
DISTINCTION = 2 GCSE ‘A’ grades

G. Oldfield – Head of PE

CORE PHYSICAL EDUCATION

In Y10 and Y11 you will have the opportunity to study in greater depth two different activities chosen from the games, swimming and athletics areas of the Physical Education National Curriculum. One activity, however, must be from the games area of activity. These options will further extend your skills, knowledge and understanding in that area of Physical Education.

In games you will play full versions of the activity and will adopt the different roles of performer, coach and official. You will study the principles of games, advanced tactics and strategies in competitive situations and advanced techniques of performance. In swimming you will learn resuscitation and rescue techniques in addition to preparation for competitive swimming. In athletics the principles and strategies of improving performance will be studied.

Students who have the appropriate skills will be invited to study GCSE PE through this core time.

G. Oldfield – Head of Physical Education

2011 has started well for our Y8 rugby team. They welcomed King James School from Knaresborough in the 2nd round of the Yorkshire Rugby League Cup and after an evenly matched first half, the Don Valley boys played superbly in the second half to eventually win 56-16.

Well done to all the lads involved as you are now the first South Yorkshire team to reach the quarter final stage in the history of the competition.

In the last week our Y8 boys have shown their ability to excel in a range of activities. The Y8 rugby team beat Bruntcliffe in the Yorkshire Rugby League cup match 28-12. On friday 19th Nov. our top male and female athletes in Y8 and Y10 went to the EIS in Sheffield and after a number of individual successes, the Y8 boys were overall winners.

On 23rd Nov. the Y8 football team went to Meadowhead school and ran out 3-0 winners. Congratulations to all those boys involved and keep up the good work.

The 6th form football team continued to look impressive in their recent fixture in the 4th round of the English School Cup. They made the long journey to Blackburn to face Haslingdon school and ran out 4-2 winners with some very impressive play and some even better goals. They now face another journey to Long Eaton in the last 64 of the competiton.

The Y8 rugby team also impressed in their 28-12 victory over Bruntcliffe in the 1st round of the Yorkshire Rugby League Cup. Lets hope they can continue their good form against King James School in the next round.

The PE department are now looking forward to the Indoor Athletic Championsips which will be held at the EIS in Sheffield.

Good luck to all the boys and girls taking part in their upcoming fixtures and competitions!!