Sports

Early and lower years had an amazing sports day on Tuesday. All students participated with a smile on their face and the enthusiasm to do their best. We witnessed some amazing jumps and throws as well as photo finish races. It was a fun and exciting day for all. Lots of laugher and team cheering created... a great atmosphere which encouraged the competitors. All students received a participation certificate which they all should be proud of. Some years groups competed for their houses as well as the chance to win individual medals. At the end of sports day, Year 2, 3 and 4 performed their gymnastic routines, displaying all the skills they have learned throughout the year.

Our Director of Sport, Roy Headey talks through the newest addition to our onsite sport facilities:

Hampton Court House’ new sports court was fitted in the Spring term and has been a big hit with the students, who can be found playing on it during break, lunchtime and after school – as well as the...

Year 1 learned some basic yoga poses and breathing exercises in their movement/dance lesson today. The poses and movements Steph taught them are very beneficial for developing strength and flexibiity as well as giving the children some time to pause and focus on their breathing and thoughts in their... otherwise busy day! As we have a slightly adapted timetable at the moment, our lower years pupils are having sport and movement lessons every day.

13 Students spent the day at Twickenham Stadium, where the activities started with games aimed at developing understanding of the different fitness requirements of the various positions: Speed – Endurance – Power – Agility and Strength. One game involved selecting animals and super heroes in what... might be their best positions, from which a formidable team comprising Spiderman at full-back; a bull, rhinoceros and grizzly bear in the front row; cheetahs on the wings and The Hulk at No. 8 emerged. Catching and passing would have been the main limiting factor, but they would have posed an intimidating physical challenge for their opponents.

Years 1 and 2 took to the pitch this morning to learn new rugby skills ahead of the start of the Rugby World Cup. It was the perfect introduction to the sport for some of our younger pupils and an opportunity to put the world cup into context. The pupils played ‘steal the egg from the nest’ to hone... their skills in ball control, they ran a slalom with the ball and scored a ‘try’ at the end to start to build their sense of how the game is played. The groups will continue to expand their knowledge of the sport as they work together over the next six weeks.

Pupils in Years 12 and 13 are being coached in non-contact boxing as part of the Autumn term clubs programme at Hampton Court House. Director of Sport, Roy Headey, is working with the small group of sixth formers to build their technique as well as giving them all important instruction in hand-wrapping... and conduct to ensure all the students are safe. Each sixth form boxer is given their own wraps and gloves as part of the programme and they follow a specially crafted programme which will guide them through basic technique before moving on to more complex combinations. The later start time in Years 12 and 13 means the pupils can take part in lunchtime clubs and activities. The newly formed boxing club is not only giving the sixth form new skills and techniques but provides an aerobic and anaerobic workout for the whole body.

The girls in Years 9 to 11 enjoyed their first rowing lesson of the year. The high ratio of coaches to pupils means the girls receive intensive coaching during the two-hour period they spend at Molesey Boat Club, with a mix of rowing on the river, technical training in the indoor tank and functional... strength work in the gym.