Our programme of sport is designed to maximise participation and inclusivity so that all pupils benefit, regardless of their level of ability. At Beachborough Prep in Brackley, Northamptonshire, we encourage our pupils from our 2.5-year-olds in our Nursery to our 13-year-olds in our upper school, to engage in various sporting activities. By doing so, children can develop awareness of their health, learn how to work cooperatively in small teams, promote decision-making skills, and build on a natural enthusiasm for movement as well as developing vital, core motor skills.
Competitive sports begin at Form III when every child has the chance to play in regular matches against other local prep schools, whether this be on our extensive playing fields, in our 700-square metre sports hall, on our astroturf or within our hard courts.
For our girls in particular, it is especially important to ‘break down the barriers’ with regards to (historically) gender-specific sports and promote our ‘sports for all’ ethos, the health benefits of regular exercise and also the life skills learnt by participating in sport, enabling our girls to be equipped with future-ready skills in whatever they do in their professional careers as well as their sporting endeavours.
Form IV pupil, Lily, said,
“I’m so, so happy to be able to play football with the boys both in lessons but also in matches. I’ve played football for my local girls’ team for 2.5 years now, training on a Wednesday and playing matches on a Saturday. To be able to also play in school is really exciting, as I love getting stuck in. I often play in break times with some of the boys and always felt I could be part of the team and be competitive against other schools. I’m so happy Beachborough have enabled me to do this, and it will without doubt make me stronger and a more technical player. I also get to play netball during the week as well, so I don’t get to miss out on improving there too. I cannot wait to play in more matches throughout the term.”
Here at Beachborough Prep, we are continuously adapting our sporting delivery, enabling us to promote a variety of sports to our girls. Cricket has been a major success over the last seven years at Beachborough and we now facilitate mixed gender teams from Form III upwards. We have pupils who are playing at county level, those who are playing hard ball T20 cricket and girls who are being selected to play in our First Team.
Our ten-year relationship with the Northampton Saints has enabled the development of girls’ rugby to be taught in Games lessons. The girls are incredibly lucky to have an excellent coach and role model in international player, Daisy Hibbert-Jones. This year, we have entered girls into the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) football tournament and have now implemented football lessons as part of our curriculum. Our school and club links are stronger than ever as many of our sports teaching staff also coach in clubs outside of school. This is a great way to encourage our girls to attend external clubs and to develop their skills and learning further.
Beachborough Prep girls are extremely successful sportswomen, achieving sports scholarships to senior schools, representing girls’ football for the UK in the Gothia Cup and competing at national level in netball, swimming and athletics. We are also fortunate enough to have visiting sports specialists from Stowe School, Bloxham and the Northampton Saints. This year, our girls have secured three full scholarships to three different senior schools.
Mrs Howkins, Head of Girls’ Sport, said,
“As a department we are so very proud of all of our girls. They have a fantastic can-do attitude, whatever their ability. We make great progress with them all and enjoy supporting them both in lessons and in fixtures. Our advice is: be resilient, work hard and rise to new challenges. We look forward to seeing what they bring for the rest of this academic year!”
To find out more about our sports offering for girls and boys, please contact our Admissions Team on admissions@beachborough.com
