Sports Scholarship and High-Performance Athletes Programme (HPAP) by Eltham College

The Eltham College Sports Scholarship and High-Performance Athletes Programme (HPAP)

We are delighted that the strength of our sporting reputation draws many exceptional athletes to Eltham College.

Our High-Performance programme, led by Edd Thorogood, has been designed to support and develop students at an elite level, both on and off the field, to ensure every scholar achieves their full potential.

The Programme

The High-Performance programme provides students the opportunity to continue their sporting journey, with the aim of providing a holistic approach to athlete development, including movement literacy, nutrition, sports psychology and small group technical sessions.

Our High-Performance culture is not just about the desire to win, and winning itself, but understanding the process and the preparation that is required to achieve at the highest level, with the ultimate goal of building a lifelong ethos of success and excellence.

Throughout the year, all students can meet with their assigned mentor, access gym sessions in the morning, lunchtime, and afternoon, attend high-performance seminars, complete compulsory fitness testing, and train with high level coaches to better their individual and collective development.

Eltham College Sports Scholarship Pathway

The pathway follows six stages, each level dependent on meeting the threshold requirements to progress.

The Pathway Bespoke Programmes

10, 11, 12 & 13 –

10, 11, 12 & 13 – Weekly S&C sessions, Seminars, Mentor meetings

HPAP Support and Benefits

Strength and Conditioning

Strength and Conditioning at Eltham College is led by coaches Matt Hodson and Matt Morrish who are on hand to supervise sessions and provide advice and technical coaching. Sports Scholars have a personalised strength and conditioning programme designed to support their individual needs. HPAP Students receive 1-2-1 sessions, and all 1st team core sports receive weekly team S&C sessions.

Fitness Testing

There are six fitness testing sessions each year to track student athlete performance improvements, focusing on power, speed and aerobic endurance.

Sports Psychology

The Sports Psychology Programme at Eltham College is led by Kate Parkin, a trainee Sports and Exercise Psychologist accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The programme provides group seminars designed to enhance psychological resilience and equip athletes with essential mental tools for success in sports, academics, and life. Key topics include performing under pressure, emotional regulation, and mental health.

In addition to group seminars, the programme offers tailored team sessions and one-on-one consultations to address individual needs. Its primary goal is to provide holistic support for athletes throughout their sporting journeys. Complementing the physical development provided by the Strength and Conditioning (S&C) programme, the Sports Psychology Programme focuses on cultivating mental strength to optimise performance and well-being.

Mentor Meetings

Students are allocated a personal mentor from our outstanding sports staff. This mentor will have been selected based on their experiences and specific understanding of the student’s position. Mentors and mentees meet two times a year.

Lectures and Seminars

Students involved will follow a bi-annual rotation of lectures and seminars which are hosted throughout the academic year by both internal and external speakers and cover topics such as:

Seminar sessions

ghan

Matthew Callaghan

Injury Management – Return 2 Play

Our Injury Recovery Programme ensures our athletes minimise any time off the field due to injury. Students benefit from our partnership with Return 2 Play, where student injury is monitored and students are gradually returned to competitive action once assessed - in the case of concussion, through consultation with an online doctor.

Sports Agency Liaison

Staff provide guidance and support to those students and families selected by High Performing institutions. Heads of sport have active links to:

Kent County Cricket Club

Holcombe Talent Academy

Saracens Rugby Club

Clubs affiliated with Swim England

Kent Netball

Pulse Netball

Year 9 Sports Science Trip

Year 9 Sports Scholars undertake an annual trip to Greenwich University Sports Science Laboratories. Students participate in a range of different practical tests including muscle tension, VO2 Max, countermovement jumps, speed analysis and muscular ultrasound.

1-2-1 and Specialist Small Group Sessions Specialist individual and group training is provided depending on the student’s specialist field.

Academy sessions

Expectations

HPAP athletes are expected to

• Represent the school regularly and consistently in all core sports.

• Set high standards that not only improve their own performance but encourage the wider Eltham College community to improve as well.

• Utilise the wealth of coaching and facilities available to them.

• Engage with the Mentor Programme.

• Lead by example in everything they do, including training and representing the school.

Success

Students on the HPAP achieve County, Academy, Regional, National and International recognition. In the last three years we have seen students achieve success in International Hockey, Swimming, Netball and Athletics.

Honours

Student Profiles

Emily Cadman Yr 11

U17 Team England Athletics

English Schools U17 200m and 4 x 100m Champion

Cambridge Harriers

Kadiri Yr 11

England Roses Academy Programme London Pulse U17 NPL Squad 1st VII debut in Year 10

Hayden Sanders Yr 9

Great Britain Swimming Talent Pathway

4 x National Champion 2024

15 Current No #1 Rankings in GB

Raf Dekkers Yr 10

England Hockey U16

Holcombe Talent Academy 1st XI debut in Year 9

Boden Kelly Yr 12

U16 British Skiing Slalom Champion Team England, ESSKIA

Ski Race Team Captain

Tom Ravenscroft Yr 11

Saracens Academy U16 Blackheath RFC 1st XV debut in Year 119

Christine

Facilities

Sports facilities at Eltham College include:

• 2 newly laid Hockey AstroTurf pitches

• 8 Rugby pitches

• 8 Cricket squares

• 14 Cricket nets (6 grass)

• 6 Netball courts (1 indoor and 5 outdoor)

• 6 Tennis courts

• 2 Football pitches

• A 300m grass athletics track (during summer)

• 2 Sports pavilions

• The Eric Liddell Sports Centre, which has a gym, a 25m swimming pool, sports hall, dance studio, a climbing wall and multi-functional training area.

High-Performance Gym

The High-Performance gym was designed with the athlete in mind. It has a large range of free weights and conditioning equipment which enables athletes to complete their individualised strength and conditioning programmes that have been designed by our expert staff. The High-Performance gym is exclusively used by our sports scholars and high performance teams.

Support Facilities

Athletes are regularly scheduled to use our 25m swimming pool for rehabilitation or specialist recovery.

We also have a link to Blackheath Hospital and to a Sports Rehabilitation Consultant Doctor.

Michaelmas & Lent term

Student Quotes

I joined Eltham College in Year 7 and have been fortunate enough to have been involved in the Scholars and HPAP programme since then. I have regular meetings with my mentor and have been able to access meetings with our Sports Psychologist. Our weekly S&C sessions are fantastic with our coach making these demanding but also fun. I really feel the programme has helped me develop and have recently been selected into the county swimming programme as well as playing regularly in the A team for Rugby and Hockey.

(Year 7 Boy)

I have been at Eltham College for 4 years and have been a member of the HPAP throughout my time here. I started as an all-rounder playing Rugby, Hockey and Cricket for the A teams, but in recent years I have been able to streamline my performance and training through the programme to focus on Hockey. I have been selected for England U16 and am now in a national league premier division squad. I have an individual training programme set out by our Head of S&C and manage my time with my mentor to enable me to get the best out of my ability. I hope to still play A team cricket this summer.

(Year 10 Boy)

Through the High Performance programme at Eltham College, I have been able to realise my potential. With a fantastic mentor, additional training sessions and regular S&C, my netball has gone from strength to strength, resulting in being selected for the England Roses Academy. I have also been given the opportunity to play U18 Netball for School as a Year 11 which has enabled me to play alongside more mature athletes and work on both my game play and personal skills.

(Year 11 Girl)

Having only joined Eltham College in Year 12, I am relatively new to the programme. But with early morning S&C sessions, regular mentor meetings and outstanding coaching, I have been able to develop my game more than I ever thought I could in such a short space of time. I now have been afforded the chance to embrace my leadership skills as I was named Netball captain for my final year.

(Year 13 Girl)

The High-Performance Leadership Team

Marc Edwards Director of Sport mae@eltham-college.org.uk

Edd Thorogood Head of High Performance & i/c Athletics ett@eltham-college.org.uk

Matt Hodson Head of S&C mah@eltham-college.org.uk

Kate Parkin Sports Psychologist kop@eltham-college.org.uk

Commitment Promote

Ownership

Resilience

Enjoyment Securing