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Hillstone Primary School SPorts

Where Every Goal Reflects Our Values!

Birmingham City Girls’ Football G&T Programme Kicks Off!

We are delighted to announce the launch of the new Birmingham City Girls’ Football Gifted and Talented Programme. A six-week initiative, happening every Tuesday designed to nurture and develop the next generation of female footballers across our school.

This exciting programme has selected 24 talented girls from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, each recognised for their outstanding potential, enthusiasm, and commitment to the game. Over the coming weeks, the players will take part in specialised coaching sessions focusing on technical skills, tactical awareness, teamwork, and leadership on and off the pitch.

Delivered by qualified coaches in partnership with Birmingham City Football Club Foundation, the sessions aim to provide a high-quality pathway for girls who show exceptional promise in football, while also promoting confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of sport.

This new initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to developing girls’ football across East Birmingham (Shard End), breaking down barriers and providing equal access opportunities for all.

We’re incredibly proud of the girls who have been chosen and can’t wait to see their progress over the next six weeks.

Well done to Hoor 3T, Ava 3D, Taijah 3D, Mimi 3D, Laila 3D, Hannah 4B, Inaya 4B, Flo 4B, Niamh 4Y, Luna 4Y, Kenza 4Y, Nyla 5F, Holly 5F, Jessica 5F, Anastasiia 5R, Aaliyah 5R, Fatoumata 6K, Darcey 6K, Amara 6K, Skylar 6R, Mia C 6R, Alesha 6R, Olivia H 6R

Using Wall Bars Safely and Effectively in Primary Gymnastics (Ages 4–11)

Gymnastics is a fantastic way to promote physical fitness, flexibility, and confidence among children aged 4 to 11. As a primary school teacher or coach, incorporating gymnastics into your curriculum can bring immense benefits to your pupils.

One essential tool in most school halls is the wall bars. Unfortunately, they often end up gathering dust because many teachers feel unsure about how to use them safely.

Taken from our online course for teachers and coaches, this guide walks you through how to use wall bars confidently and effectively in your PE lessons.

These versatile pieces of equipment might seem intimidating at first, but with the right guidance, you can safely incorporate them to enhance your gymnastics provision.

Guidance with regards to the health and safety of using our gym equipment

Step 1: Familiarise Yourself

Before introducing wall bars to your pupils, take time to become familiar with the equipment. Understand its various parts — the rungs, frames, and attachment points. This familiarity will help you feel more confident and allow you to navigate the setup efficiently.

Step 2: Safety First

1. The safety of our pupils is paramount.

2. Before each session: Thoroughly inspect the wall bars for any signs of wear or damage.

3. Ensure the bars are securely attached to the wall and that the frame is stable.

4. Clear the area around the wall bars to remove any potential hazards.

5. Set clear safety expectations with children: Respect the climbing apparatus.

6. No jumping off.

7. Always step down safely.

8. Travel at a sensible height.

9. Do not go over the top or touch the ceiling.

10. Be aware of others on the bars.

Note

British Gymnastics advises that mats are not used beneath wall bars, as they can encourage jumping. However, always check your school’s policy, as some may require mats to be in place.

· Y-Shaped Climbing Frame Guidance

For a “Y-shaped” climbing frame (like the one at Hillstone), the number of children allowed on it at once will vary — unlike the strict one-child rule for wall bars. The exact number depends on several factors and should always be guided by the school’s risk assessment and PE policy.

Before each use, ensure the frame is clear of any debris or obstructions, and that it is securely bolted into the floor at the designated locking points to make it completely rigid and stable. This is essential to maintain safety and prevent movement during activity.

Key factors include:

Design and size: Some Y-frames are smaller, three-panel folding frames for small groups, while others are large, multi-activity structures.

Manufacturer’s specifications: Always follow the recommended capacity and weight limits.

Supervision and age group: Younger pupils require closer supervision and fewer users at once.

Practical guideline: A safe working number is typically no more than 8 pupils at one time (e.g. 4 on each side).

Practical guideline:

Design and size: Some Y-frames are smaller, three-panel folding frames for small groups, while others are large, multi-activity structures.

Manufacturer’s specifications: Always follow the recommended capacity and weight limits.

Supervision and age group: Younger pupils require closer supervision and fewer users at once.

Step 3: Start with Basic Movements

Begin with simple, foundational activities to introduce pupils to the wall bars.

Teach them how to:

1. Grip the bars securely.

2. Maintain strong posture and body control.

3. Perform basic actions such as hanging, climbing, and leg lifts.

These build strength, coordination, and confidence before moving to more complex skills.

Step 4: Incorporate Routines

Once children are comfortable, integrate the wall bars into sequences involving shapes, travelling, and balances. Encourage pupils to work individually, in pairs, or small groups to keep lessons active and creative.

Step 5: Progression and Skill Development

As confidence grows, introduce progressive challenges such as mirroring, matching, or canon movements. These develop coordination, teamwork, and spatial awareness, and are ideal for linking with floor work.

Step 6: Encourage Creativity

Allow pupils to explore and experiment safely. Encourage them to design their own short sequences using different ways of climbing, hanging, and balancing. This promotes ownership, creativity, and a sense of achievement — key ingredients for sustained engagement and confidence.

Conclusion

Using wall bars as part of your gymnastics teaching for 4–11-year-olds can be incredibly rewarding.

By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll build your own confidence while ensuring pupils use the equipment safely and effectively. With clear expectations, steady progression, and encouragement, your pupils will develop physical competence, body control, and creativity embracing the exciting world of gymnastics with enthusiasm. Reference: Mastering Wall Bars: U-Sports. www.U-sports.co.uk

Respect the Game, Rise Together!

Resilient Players, Responsible Champions!

Team Spirit, Hillstone Pride!

KS2 Boys La Liga Football – Castle Vale Stadium, Tuesday 11th November 2025 (4-6pm)

Game 1 – Hillstone vs St Barnabas

Hillstone started brightly, dominating the opening minutes with some excellent attacking play. Both Jacob and Preston were unlucky to see their efforts strike the post in what was an exciting start to the game. Despite our strong performance, St Barnabas opened the scoring just before half-time.

After the break, Hillstone continued to create chances, with several one-on-one opportunities narrowly missed. Persistence paid off when pressure forced an own goal from St Barnabas, levelling the score at 1–1. In the final six minutes, however, a couple of errors while trying to play out from the back to beat the retreat rule, allowed St Barnabas to score twice in quick succession. The final score was 3 – 1 to St Barnabas, but the game was evenly matched and could have gone either way.

Game 2 – Hillstone vs Featherstone

In their second and final match of the evening, Hillstone bounced back brilliantly against Featherstone, showing confidence and resilience straight after their earlier defeat. Zaion went on the immediate attack, scoring within the first minute, only for the goal to be disallowed following a foul throw in the build-up. Undeterred, the boys continued to apply pressure and were rewarded just before half-time when Jacob picked up the ball from the halfway line, drove past the defence, and fired a superb strike into the bottom right corner.

In the second half, Hillstone maintained their dominance. Newcomer Lucas made an excellent impact, linking play well with some clever passes and strong forward runs. With five minutes remaining, Zaion finally got the goal he’d been chasing, calmly slotting home from close range to make it 2–0. Both goals were set up by Kodi, who showed great vision and teamwork.

It was a fantastic team performance and a well-deserved first win of the season! Both Mr. Fraser and Mr. Levack were extremely proud of the boys’ attitude, effort, and improvement throughout the evening. Well Done: Jacob 6K, Kodi 6K, Rhys 6K, Preston 6R, Medhysan 6R, Zaion 6K, Lucas 4Y, Alfie 5F, Che 5R and Jax 5R

A special thank you to Mr. Chew for driving the team to the stadium and supporting the boys throughout.

Girls Shine at Rugby Festival Following England’s World Cup Triumph!

In celebration of the England Women’s Rugby World Cup victory, a group of Hillstone girls took part in a fantastic Girls Rugby Festival held at Birmingham & Moseley Rugby Club on Monday 6th October 2025.

The morning was packed with exciting skills workshops and mini game activities, giving the girls the opportunity to develop the essential skills needed to play rugby, from passing and tackling to teamwork and communication. Each participant received some brilliant freebies, including water bottles and sucker fidgets, before spending lunch collaborating with girls from other schools to create origami roses and friendship bracelets in true team spirit.

After lunch, the girls took part in a T1 Rugby Festival tournament where they put their new skills to the test and they did Hillstone proud! The team played superbly, showing resilience, teamwork, and determination throughout, winning all three of their matches.

-Hillstone (2) Harper Bell (1)

-Hillstone (2) Clifton (0)

-Hillstone (3) Billesley (1)

A huge well done to all the girls for their fantastic attitude, sportsmanship, and success. Special thank you to Miss Glew, who got stuck in with coaching and refereeing on the day, sharing her excellent rugby knowledge (no doubt inspired by her boys, who also play for a local Rugby club in Tamworth!

Team Hillstone:

Eliza (5R), Robyn (5R), Scarlett (5R), Lola (5F), Jessica (5F), Holly (5F), Marie (6R), Alesha (6R), Connie (6R), Darcey (6K), Enya (6K), Fatoumata (6K)

Well done girls, what an amazing way to celebrate England’s historic win and showcase the future of girls’ Rugby!