Sport

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Sport plays a significant role in the life of King Edward’s School. The School enjoys a strong sporting tradition, where all pupils are encouraged to take an active role in the curricular and co-curricular opportunities available to them. We strongly believe that all pupils deserve the opportunity to enjoy sport, regardless of ability, to reach their sporting potential.

We provide enthusiastic and skilful coaching, so that each pupil is encouraged to develop their skills, to allow later involvement at recreational level or within a competitive environment. We aim to nurture teamwork, leadership, commitment and a passion for sport through the opportunities available to all pupils at KES.

We believe that ‘Excellence and Sport for all’ can co-exist, and to promote this we offer A, B, C and D teams throughout our fixture programme, run a series of inter-form competitions and are also very proud of our success on the regional and national stage.

The Sports programme at KES is enhanced through links with the wider sporting community through our work with Bath Cricket Club, Bath Rugby Academy, Team Bath Buccaneers Hockey Club and our work with local primary schools.

Touring is another important part of our sports programme. We aim to provide our pupils with the opportunity to participate in at least one major tour during their time at King Edward’s. Previous touring destinations include Antigua, Barbados, Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Spain and France. A new programme of pre-season tours for senior teams is also in development for our major sports, with destinations including Spain, Holland, Dubai and France.

‘A comprehensive offer of pre-season training, S&C (all sports) and masterclasses for elite players and the hosting of a hockey festival are all proof of KES' commitment to sport.’
Good Schools Guide

Major Sports

NETBALL

Netball at King Edward’s has a strong tradition of success, allowing pupils of all abilities to develop their skills, from recreation to performance level. We are proud of our achievements in the National Schools Competition, regularly reaching the Regional Finals across all age groups. There is a real pride and passion to perform, but alongside this there is a determination to train hard, to work as a team and to realise potential.

Pupils are provided with excellent coaching from our own highly qualified and experienced staff, which include five Level 2 coaches. Our coaching philosophy aims to instil a lifelong love of the sport whilst enabling pupils to participate at a level that challenges them. We enjoy a reputation as one of the top netball schools in the south west and are renowned for producing talented netballers and netball teams.

18 teams typically represent KES on a weekly basis resulting in over 140 girls routinely playing in fixtures. A significant number of pupils participate in the England Netball Performance Pathway in Satellite and County academies, as well as the Team Bath Athlete Development Centres (ADC), Player Development Programmes (PDP) and National Performance League (NPL) squads.

Close links with Team Bath Netball Club and Bath Cougars ensure our pupils access club level sport. We have been proud sponsors of the Team Bath Netball Super League for many seasons and moving forwards we will continue to suport the player pathway programme in the new look Super League.

KES hosts netball tournaments from Junior School to Sixth Form level as part of its pre-season and fixture programme.

Netball

RUGBY

King Edward’s has a rich rugby heritage and a long history of success. Focused predominantly in the Autumn Term, with a 7s rugby programme operating in the Spring Term embracing the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s, KES fields up to 15 teams from U12 to 1st XV.

Our rugby programme benefits from a superb team of specialist coaching staff, which include RFU Level 2 and 3 coaches. The general focus of rugby at KES is on safety, enjoyment and skill development, whilst building competitive and honest young sportsmen and teams.

Pre-season rugby sessions take place prior to the start of the Autumn Term, and boys have access to Strength and Conditioning (S&C) work throughout the year. During the Autumn Term, boys receive a weekly two-hour games session at our Bathampton playing fields which focuses on the development of individual and team skills, game awareness and ensuring that our players are contact ready. Our players also participate in a weekly after-school training session, which tends to focus on preparing teams for fixtures. The use of video analysis has allowed players a greater understanding of coaching points, patterns of play and skill development, both individually and as a team.

Providing an opportunity for our pupils to tour is an integral part of what we do, ranging from pre-season tours to long-haul experiences. Touring has had a significant impact on the success of KES Rugby in the past two decades, with players of all abilities participating and making major improvements in individual skills, attitude and teamwork.

The School has a flourishing pathway programme, with KES rugby players regularly selected into the Bath Rugby talent pathway, from U15 PDG to U18 PDG.

Girls’ rugby is evolving at the School with the focus on the 7-a-side format at present. Training sessions take place before school on the astro and focus on skills development and game awareness over the course of the Autumn and Spring Term. The Spring Term is the competitive season, participating in tournaments in preparation for the National School 7s competition.

Rugby

HOCKEY

Pupils at King Edward’s School are passionate about playing hockey. We work hard to develop highly skilled, physically strong players, who are problem solving, decision-makers. Pupils have great fun playing the game and focus on performing to the best of their capabilities, even under intense pressure. Our players have a positive attitude and will do all they can to make consistent progress and to get the best from themselves and those around them.

Hockey is played by all pupils at KES, with girls’ hockey taking place in the Autumn Term, while the boys play in the Spring. The fixture card is balanced, challenging and continues to develop. Our teams enjoy regular block fixtures on Saturdays, with some additional mid-week matches.

KES hockey teams also participate in the National Indoor and Outdoor Schools Competitions at various age groups. We have achieved increasing levels of success recently, at both County and Regional level, and aspire to be regular competitors at the National Final stages in the coming years.

The School continues to host the internationally recognised KES Hockey Festival at the end of the Spring Term, hosting boys’ and girls’ school teams from across the British Isles and overseas.

Hockey benefits from a committed and experienced group of staff, that boasts playing and coaching experience at the highest levels of the game. A Great Britain Hockey Advanced Level Coach and two former Great Britain Internationals lead the coaching team.

Our focus is on establishing excellent general movement skills, hockey specific skills and an increasing tactical understanding of the game. Overarching all of this is the development of personal resilience, hard work, and a keen and respectful competitive spirit.

King Edward’s benefits from an elite class artificial pitch and also makes regular use of two additional artificial pitches at the University of Bath. The School continues to develop links with Team Bath Buccaneers Hockey Club and City of Bath Hockey Club, with an increasing number of pupils representing each club. We are proud to see an increasing number of pupils being selected for various stages of the England Hockey Talent System and this serves as great inspiration to pupils up and down the School.

Hockey

Cricket

The School’s innovative cricket programme has seen significant development in recent years, including cricket being played across genders and by all age groups. With a mix of hard and soft ball, the programme is both forward-thinking and all encompassing. Cricket is predominantly played in the Summer Term, supported by an all-year round programme of indoor matches and training. The School typically fields 12 boys' and 12 girls' teams throughout the summer, with A-D teams.

The main themes for cricket at KES are safety, enjoyment, skill development and tactical awareness, all within an environment that encourages freedom and an enjoyment of the game that continues beyond school.

During the Summer Term pupils receive a weekly, two-hour games session which focuses on the development of individual and team skills and game awareness. An additional after-school training session prepares teams for fixtures. Recent developments have seen an increased focus on functional movement work to ensure that cricketers are fit for the stresses that bowling, batting and fielding places upon joints and young bodies.

The School has an excellent relationship with Bath Cricket Club, where we share their state-of-the-art facilities, which supplements our own indoor net system and outdoor provision. With players involved in both District and County Cricket, our relationship with both Somerset County Cricket Club and Wiltshire CCC, is fundamental in moving our cricket programme forward.

Cricket

Additional Sporting Opportunities

Strength and Conditioning
The Strength and Conditioning Programme at KES is designed to make the fundamentals of strength and conditioning accessible to as many pupils as possible. We want to support our athletes in achieving their potential, whilst also fostering a life-long love of exercise with methods which are efficient, appropriate and fun. In Years 7 and 8 we focus on basic bodyweight control and coordination and primarily use games and obstacles courses. As pupils move through Years 9 and 10 they are exposed to more advanced progressions of bodyweight exercise and learn the fundamentals of basic barbell movements. In Year 11 and above we allow pupils to choose and monitor their own programmes and take more ownership of their training. The opening of our new gym with three focus areas has hugely enhanced our provision in this key area of sporting life at KES.
Athletics and Cross-Country
Pupils from all year groups have the chance to represent KES in local B&NES athletics and cross-country competitions. Those that succeed go on to compete at the Avon Schools, the South-West Championships and finally the English Schools’ Competition. The School also enters a variety of road and off-road races throughout the course of the year. Many athletes also belong to local athletics and running clubs. KES has its own lunchtime running club which is very popular. We have four routes that use the National Trust trails and the canal path as a way for pupils to enjoy time with other students from a variety of year groups whilst encouraging them to work on their overall physical and mental fitness.
Football
Boys football is played at senior level (Year 11-13) during the Autumn and Spring Terms on a Thursday afternoon and is available to all levels of ability. Over 40 boys enjoy weekly training sessions or competitive matches at 1st and 2nd team level against other local and regional independent and state schools and colleges. The emphasis is improvement in individual skills and developing technical and tactical play. There is much camaraderie with a healthy mix of fitness work, competition and fun, aiming to learn and improve as a team. A new addition to the programme has been an indoor Fusbal programme for Year 7 and 8 boys and girls.
Tennis
During the Summer Term all year groups have access to training, coaching and match play at different times during the week, either during their games session or in after-school clubs. Many of our pupils have been involved with the Team Bath Tennis Programme and Academy from a very young age and they continue to develop their skills and passion for the game as they progress through school. In terms of competitive tennis, our most talented players at U13, U15 and Seniors participate in the Avon Schools' Doubles and Singles Championship. Our four best players also represent the School in the U13 and U15 Aegon Tennis League. In recent years, we have won the County round in several age groups and progressed to the National knock-out rounds. We also provide fixtures against local schools for all age groups throughout the term.
Swimming
Club and keen swimmers have the chance to represent the school in Year 7 in local galas and meets. This helps with the transition into the Senior school, bringing both Junior School and new pupils together in a different setting.

100%

participation in Sports fixtures by Year 7 (Spring/Autumn Terms)

1st-4th

team in major sports in Years 11-13

12

Girls cricket teams

25+

weekly Sports Clubs & Activities

Our partnership with pure practise physiotherapy

We partner with The Pure Practise Physiotheraphy to provide rehabilitation support alongside services to enhance our education programme, for example:

Strength and Conditioning support for pupils
Coach education workshops for KES staff
Parental keynote lectures
Expertise and advice within our Careers programme

Drama

The KES Drama department aims to nurture a sense of community through participation in school plays, drama clubs, theatre trips and professional workshops.

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