Schools - Key Steps

This year, 2007, was the first year that a Key Step Competition was held. The competition was organised by Paignton Community and Sports College in conjunction with coaches from South Devon School of Gymnastics. South Devon School of Gymnastics provided the coaches to go into schools to teach the Teachers the set routines so they could then put a team together. Various primary schools around the bay competed in local heats within their senior school cluster, with the winner going forward to compete in the Grand Final of all cluster schools in the Bay.

Key Step Gymnastics has been compiled by English Gymnastics – Schools. It is based around the National Competition for schools. It is designed to provide a safe and an enjoyable experience for school children. It will hopefully improve their learning and lead to a long and enjoyable participation in Gymnastics.

Key Step provides a progressive competition structure in basic agility and movement. It is suitable for children who have had no previous experience in gymnastics from Key Stage 1 upwards. It incorporates the use of agilities and core skills from the British Gymnastics Proficiency Award Scheme. It supports the development of core tasks in the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) Gymnastics units of work, thus enabling the enrichment of curriculum gymnastics.

This scheme is easily accessible by teachers with limited experience in gymnastics, therefore enabling lots of schools to participate. The routines are set into three age bands:

• Key Stage 1
• Lower Key Stage 2
• Upper Key Stage 2.

The competition is designed for teams of six children either boys or girls from each school to perform a set routines in Floor, Body Management and a Vault. These routines are then judged on how well the gymnast performs them.

The following heats took place:

Paignton Community and Sports College cluster heat

Foxhole Juniors - Winner
Curledge Street
Oldway Primary

Churston Ferrers Grammar School cluster heat

White Rock - Winner
Galmpton

Brixham Community College cluster heat

Eden Park - Winner
Furzeham
St Margaret Clitheroe

The Final

The Final was held on March 6th at Paignton Community and Sports College with the Paignton finalists competing against the finalists from the Torquay clusters of schools. Judges for the competition were provided by our club and Leadership Students from the various secondary schools.

All the schools had a great afternoon competing and the standards were very high. The overall placing for First, Second and Third were separated by less then one whole mark. After a very tight battle the overall team placings were as follows:

The competition was rounded off with a display given by our Elite Squad.

This competition was hailed an incredible success by all those who took part and there are plans already underway for next years competition. All children who took part had a wonderful time.