Sport, Expeditions, Activities
The development of physical competence is one of the key components of a holistic education and students are expected to take a positive and willing approach to participation.
Physical Education (PE) is timetabled for Year 5 through to Year 11 during normal class time throughout the week. Normally, Years 5 to 11 have two double sessions of PE each week. Year 12 and 13 students are involved in sport for a minimum of two hours per week.
Students must wear school PE uniform provided by the School Shop whenever they take part in PE lessons and school sports activities. The same rule applies to correct Aiglon ski clothing worn before and during the lesson or expedition.
The aim of the Expedition Department is to lead students toward greater independence and responsibility through the use of the outdoor environment. Character building through adventure is an established and integral feature of the educational programme at Aiglon.
Autumn Term: In the Junior School, all Year 5 and 6 students have to complete a minimum of three expeditions. Two must be overnight experiences, and if they complete five, they achieve their Marmot Award. Year 7 and 8 students must complete a minimum of three expeditions, and if they complete five, they achieve their Bouquetin Award.
In the Senior School, all students do a minimum of two expeditions, including their House expeditions. New students and Year 9 students are required to complete three expeditions. Years 9, 10 and 11 must attend both their House and year group expeditions. New year 12 students must complete three expeditions. All year 12 students are also required to attend the IB Induction expedition.
In addition, there are also plenty of opportunities to sign up for independent and activity expeditions.
Winter Term: In the Junior School, Years 5 and 6 students have to complete a minimum of two single day expeditions and a three day long expeditions. Year 7 and 8 students have to complete a minimum of three single day expeditions and a three-day expedition.
Senior School students must complete a minimum of two single-day expeditions on a Sunday and a three-day expedition. Each student must sign up for at least one ski touring expedition unless they decide to focus on cross-country skiing. Year 13 students must complete one single day expedition plus the long expedition.
Summer Term: In the Junior School, Years 5 and 6 students must complete a minimum of three expeditions and a three-day expedition, if they complete five they achieve their Marmot Award. Year 7 and 8 students also have to complete a minimum of three expeditions and a three-day expedition, if they complete five they achieve their Bouquetin Award.
In the Senior School, Years 9 and 10 students must complete two weekend expeditions plus a three-day long expedition.
Years 11 and 12 must complete one weekend expedition. Year 12 students have a four-day expedition to the Ardèche. Year 13 students have a final three-day "Graduation" adventure expedition.
Skiing forms a large part of the PE and extra-curricular programme in the winter term. Those who arrive at Aiglon as beginner skiers should feel confident that they will have access to expert instruction and support from our team of dedicated professionals.
Responsibility and Safety Procedures Students are grouped by ability and ski with other students of a similar standard. All students, except for beginner skiers, make their way independently to the telecabine and ski to Bretaye to sign-in. During this first piste from the top of the telecabine, Aiglon members of staff monitor the students’ skiing to ensure safe practice. Upon checking in with the member of PE staff in charge of the session, the students meet their ski instructor/leader and depart once everyone who expected from the group is present. At the end of each session, students are required to check-out from Bretaye and ski to the bottom of the telecabine, if appropriate. Factors such as the weather or poor conditions may dictate that the students should go back down via the telecabine. In either case, the students are checked-off again at the bottom before they make their way back to school. This system helps to ensure the safety and the whereabouts of the students. Beginner skiers are driven to the station and arrive at Bretaye via the train. In the first week, beginners are accompanied on the train and shown the correct procedures. At the end of the session, they travel down again on the train, are collected from the station and driven to school until they are competent enough to use the telecabine. Skiing Rules and Accident Procedures Students are always under the supervision of an instructor or Aiglon staff member. Nobody may ski alone without either direct or, in some cases, remote supervision. There is no skiing on Sundays, except for expeditions, organised ski training or races. Students must make every effort to arrive on time to ski classes. Ski briefings, as well as equipment and clothing checks, are delivered by the PE staff and take place with all students before the first session of each new season. The information includes details of what to do in the case of an accident on the slopes, ski etiquette, free skiing and skiing with parents along with other relevant procedures. Accident Inquiry Serious accidents will be the subject of an inquiry to establish the cause and possible responsibility for the accident. Significant "near misses" are also subject to an inquiry to minimise the risk of a future accident. The School keeps a log of all accidents and near misses.
Medical / Off-Sport Procedures (PE, Sport, Skiing) If a student is injured, feeling sick or unable to take part in PE or Sport, they must first speak to their Houseparent. The Houseparent will follow standard policy to book an appointment at the Health Centre for the student to see a nurse.
If ‘off-skiing,’ junior students will remain in the Junior off-ski session, while senior students may be required to partake in an alternative activity, depending on the injury or illness. These activities may include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or walking to the train station in Villars and checking in with the PE staff at Bretaye, before coming back down and reporting to a supervised off-ski study session in the Library or PE classroom.
Students ‘Off-Sport’ Returning from Holidays or Exeats If a student is unable to take part in PE lessons, sports activities or skiing for medical reasons after returning from a holiday or exeat then they must present a medical certificate to the Health Centre stating the reason for ineligibility. Where required, the opinion of the school doctor may also be sought to confirm the extent of the injury or illness. The student must still report to the start of the lesson or session and follow the procedures above.
Occasionally, doctors will state that a student can take part in skiing but not in expeditions. This distinction often depends on the individual doctor’s perception of what happens during a ski session or expedition. While the School would not question the advice of a qualified medical practitioner, the PE and Expedition staff are experts in the winter activities of skiing and ski-mountaineering and know the demands of these different parts of the programme. At Aiglon, the distinction between them is limited: the skiing programme is designed in part to train students for ski mountaineering. Skiing deep or difficult snow will take place in normal ski lessons. Therefore, students with a medical problem, which prevents some forms of skiing activity, will not be permitted to take part in any of the skiing programme.
If a student cannot take part in sport or skiing, alternative physical activities are offered to aid in the recovery from injury, such as swimming and walking, provided they are medically advised. Students should see houseparents, tutor or Health Centre to discuss a rehabilitation programme.
The Health Centre regularly updates the PE Department of injuries and illnesses and maintains a list of medical appointments and students off-sport.
All students must choose one activity from each section over the course of the academic year. The structure helps to provide a balanced programme and requires all students to set achievable targets and reflect on their progress at the end of each activity.
The usual requirement for Years 9 to 11 students is at least 2 hours of activity per week within the programme.
For Years 12 and 13, the CAS component of the IB Diploma Programme is a core requirement for all Year 12 and 13s and stipulates the minimum requirements. There is, therefore, more choice and some flexibility over the number of required hours for extra CAS activity.
Service projects are an integral part of the programme. On such projects, the hours which can count towards the requirement are those which involve active participation such as building, teaching and the participation in an adventure activity. In contrast, time spent sleeping, socialising with friends, eating meals (unless helping others), watching a film or visiting a gallery or museum and other similar passive participation is not counted toward required hours.