St George’s College aims to provide all students with the opportunity to engage in a range of sports which will foster a lifelong love of sport and an active and healthy lifestyle. There are a number of talented young sports men and women in the College, and we would like to promote and nurture the prowess of these individuals whilst also encouraging all students to participate in competitive sport.
All students are required to participate in their Games and PE lesson each week. Every form will have a weekly PE lesson in which they have the opportunity to explore a wide range of different sporting activities and associated skills. In addition, each year group will have a double lesson of Games each week in which the main sport of the term will be played as follows:
Christmas term: Boys – Rugby, Girls – Hockey (& Rowing Third Year+)
Easter Term: Boys – Hockey, Girls – Netball (& Rowing Third Year+)
Summer Term: Boys and Girls – Cricket/Tennis/Athletics (& Rowing Third Year+)
Students must wear the regulation PE/Games kit, all of which must be labelled with their name. All students must wear their full College tracksuit when asked to do so especially when travelling to matches or wearing sports kit around the school. Students must also ensure they wear the correct safety gear and clothing relevant to the activity as outlined by the teacher in charge of the sport. After all games sessions, students must change back into College uniform or full College tracksuits before departing home.
Students must present a note from home to the teacher in charge of their activity group at the start of each PE/games session in the rare instance that they cannot be on Games. Generally speaking, unless a student has or is recovering from an injury, he/she will be expected to participate in games if present in school. Students unable to participate in PE/Games will remain in the activity and be given an appropriate task. Those students without kit will stay with their activity and will be provided with ‘spare kit’ if available. Students that are injured are encouraged to bring sports kit as they can do alternative exercise appropriate to their rehabilitation.
Students in the First to Third Year are required to take part in the main sports of each term as set out in the Games curriculum. Some alternative activities are offered from the Fourth Year but any student who is an A or B team player must remain in the main sport during the Fourth and Fifth Year. Those not required for a team may express their interest in an alternative activity, which may be granted with permission from the Director of Sport. Once students reach the Sixth Form they are able to have a choice over what sport or activity they would like to take part in during their Games sessions, but students will be encouraged to play representative sports for the College.
A student who is in a National age group squad may be released from the main College sport of the term, in consultation and with the permission of the Director of Sport. However, a student in this position should still represent the College where possible. A tennis player who is playing at International or National level may also be released from the main sport of the term, but is expected to prioritise tennis for the College and must be available to play in National Finals for the College.
Additional lunch time and after school practices are provided to supplement the coaching within Games lessons and all students are expected to attend these practices if they are selected for a squad. All new students must attend the first Saturday morning training session of the term, unless prior permission is sought in exceptional circumstances. For on-site after school activities and sport, parents are responsible for collecting students punctually from the front car park. Those students attending after school rowing must be collected punctually from the College Boathouse. Students are prohibited from using private sports coaches within College without permission from the Director of Sport, Deputy Head Pastoral or the Headmistress.
Where reasonable those students attending practices will be included in team selection for fixtures against other schools. The most talented and able students will be selected for the A team against similarly matched opposition, the next best for the B team, and so on. Where numbers warrant, additional fixtures will be sourced to enable more students to participate in competitive matches. All students should regard selection as a privilege and as such they must show respect and good behaviour to opposition players, supporters and coaches alike.
It is expected, as stated in the College contract, that all students will represent the College in fixtures which take place within Games lessons, after school and on weekends, if selected. All students have access to SOCS Sport website (https://www.stgeorges-sport.com/?id=227) which contains all sports fixture information; parents and students need to check this to avoid clashes. The password for team sheets will be sent out at the start of each term. College commitments should be prioritised ahead of club training and matches, and this includes school matches that are national competitions or related to them on an ad hoc basis. The Sports Administrator will make sure all fixture information is up to date.
Sport Scholars should play in all/any of the College sports where required but not to the detriment of their health, well-being or performance. We realise that in exceptional circumstances a student may need to miss a College fixture, and in such a case permission should be requested from Heads of Sports no less than 2 weeks before the fixture. The Assistant Head (Pastoral or Co-Curricular & College Entry have the right to withdraw a student from a fixture if they are not fulfilling their commitments to their academic work.
It must never be assumed that practices and fixtures have been cancelled – this information will always be communicated. For weekend matches any cancelled matches will be posted on our sports website (https://www.stgeorges-sport.com/?id=227), communicated with students via Teams and an email will be sent to parents. Team selection and cancellations will be made as early as possible.
Generally, students will only ever be asked to play up as part of a Cup squad in National competitions, which is separate from the regular season squad. There may be exceptions to this though, judged on an individual basis. Before a final decision is made the Head of Year, Director of Sport and Assistant Head: Co-Curricular & College Entry should be consulted. At all times communication must be open and clear and the Director of Sport should be consulted to ensure a level of parity is upheld across Year groups, Sports and gender.
Mrs Laura Gibson, Director of Sport, May 2023