For some years now, the PE Department has made every effort to meet the needs of all children when it comes to inter-school fixtures. It must be noted that this is not easy – the very best need to be stretched and encouraged to aspire to excellence; others want to be challenged against similar opposition, while some just want to be included. Our policy is as follows:

Senior school (Year 5 - 8)

the very best children will represent the 1st and Girls A teams and they are expected to reach as high a standard as possible. The Year 7/8 2nd and Girls B teams are selected along similar lines, with some room for rotation of personnel. The 3rd, 4th and younger B or C teams (when numbers allow) are selected with rotation in mind, so that everyone in the year group will have an opportunity to play for the school at least once a term. The results of these teams are not of great importance because of the nature of selection; participation is what matters.

There are several limiting factors, which affect the above to some extent:

• although we will typically field 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Colts A, B, C, Junior Colts A and B teams during a soccer or boys’ hockey season, not all can necessarily play at the same time because of the constraints of staffing, transport and pitches. Similarly with Girls U13 A & B, U11 A & B, U10 A & B. Furthermore, as numbers of participants increase, the teas will become a little simpler.
• not every other school can/will field as many teams as we are trying to, or can cope with the changing/catering/staffing/transport issues. This may limit the number of teams/players we can field on a given day.
• it may take several weeks for everyone to get his or her chance to play (we even take into account the nature of the opposition).
• soccer, hockey, netball and rounders are the easiest sports in which to achieve the above.

While we select as many children as possible when the opportunity arises, there are specific issues relating to technical ability, as well as health and safety, which limit the number of teams/players schools (including ourselves) will put out for rugby, athletics, cricket & swimming. Indeed, some children have no desire whatsoever to represent the school in (one of) those sports! However, Sports Days, Swimming Galas and the House Cross-Country Championships give every child the opportunity to compete at as high a standard as possible, striving for personal achievement and house points.

Junior school (Year 3 & 4)

Year 3 do not have fixtures, as they are learning the individual and team skills necessary to compete competently and enjoyably (see final paragraph).

Year 4 will have one or two fixtures in the major sports, but the school timetable prevents them from having sport on a Wednesday afternoon (when there would also be greater changing/catering/ staffing/transport issues – see above) and so these are usually on a different weekday. It is worth noting that some other schools have these fixtures on a Wednesday (and therefore cannot play us) but at the expense of a senior fixture, and we feel that once a boy or girl is in the senior school, fixtures should run weekly, without disruption. The juniors continue to train and learn vital skills in the major sports during this time and links to local clubs are advertised on the website for those who want to play outside school.

As with the seniors, Sports Days, Swimming Galas and the House Cross-Country Championships give every child the opportunity to compete at as high a standard as possible, striving both for their personal best and to assist their houses.