Sixth Form Students At Cardiff Metropolitan University

Last Wednesday 6th form students ventured over to Wales to spend a day at Cardiff Metropolitan University and once again, it certainly did not disappoint. Our current Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Extended Certificate in Sport Science students, experienced a typical University day of various seminars along with a campus tour and information on the courses available.

After an early leave, although traffic free journey, we arrived and met former students Emily Fanson and Kyle Garvie, now in their 3rd year studying Sport and PE. It was great to have their input throughout the day and get a student perspective of university life. Emily and Kyle regularly return to Budehaven to carry out placement volunteering. They are a great asset to our PE department. Both are now starting to consider a future in teaching and will explore both Primary and Secondary PGCE’s.

We started our day with an excellent campus tour of the universities facilities. They certainly have exceptional resources; highlighting the endless opportunities to embrace sport. It was great to hear that all students get free access to the fitness suite amongst many other perks. The scholarship programme was also excellent to hear about and an avenue that some of our students should consider.

The physiology seminar embraced theory through practical. The focus was on the three energy systems and students were then able to carry out a sub maximal aerobic test. All students understood the protocol of how to conduct the test, discussed the reliability and validity, then analysed the results. Charlie was then chosen to carry out the VO2 Max Test, a maximal aerobic test. He did incredibly well and was able to refer to the BORG scale of perceived exertion to continually inform us as to how he was feeling. The lab technicians were very impressed with his performance and emailed his results through to us. He can now share these with Ms Fox, our Anatomy and Physiology Teacher and Charlie can receive further insight.

We had lunch at the campus’s Starbucks before heading to an excellent Performance Analysis Seminar. The students learned about hand notation, discussing advantages and disadvantages before using the Mac computers analysis software, studying a rugby game. The students certainly enjoyed learning something new and it gave them a great insight into a course for those with a passion for sport but also enjoy a technical hands on approach. On this course, the performance analysis students are assigned a Cardiff Met Sports Team and become their analysts; a very important role that provides feedback to teams and individuals regarding all aspects of their game; technical, tactical, psychological etc. The opportunities when graduating in this degree sound very exciting.

During Sport Psychology, we studied “Demonstrations” and Albert Bandura’s theory behind effective demonstrations. Cup Stacking was the skill used to explain the model, it certainly proved to many of us that we are visual learners, I certainly couldn’t understand the protocol of a very simple cup stacking challenge until I actually saw it in action! We were then put under competitive pressure and witnessed audience effects of social loafing, social inhibition and/or evaluation apprehension. For some, the mere presence of an audience, raised their somatic and cognitive arousal levels, consequently fumbling the cups, panicking and therefore under performing. For others, the audience created an opportunity to rise to the challenge, increase adrenaline levels and strive to succeed. I’m glad to report I won my qualifying rounds and ended up in the final alongside former student Emily… I gracefully accepted defeat at this point! Well done Em!

We ended the day hearing about the many courses available, alongside the required entry requirements. Thank you Cardiff Met for organising a great day out and we look forward to brining our Year 10 students in the Summer Term.

Mrs Hilton & Mr Byrom

PHOTO GALLERY