Sport Scholarships

Sport Scholarships

Sporting excellence is an integral part of life at Ampleforth College and I am pleased to say that our Sports Scholarship programme is focused on developing and supporting pupils across a wide range of sports and age groups. An Ampleforth College sports scholar is a driven, talented sportsperson with the focus and commitment to aspire to improve at every opportunity. We welcome applications from students who wish to improve not only themselves but others around them.

Will James Director of Sport

Sport at Ampleforth

Sport is and always will be a huge part of life at Ampleforth College and we pride ourselves on the ability to perform across many different sports to the highest level. Inclusion and enjoyment are fundamental to our sporting ethos and all students are encouraged to represent the school in sports fixtures from Year 7 to Year 13. Ampleforth’s record of sporting achievement is extensive and we aim to continue this through our Sports Development and Scholarship programmes. With top class facilities, over ten hours per week of dedicated sports time for all students, and a body of highly qualified internal and professional coaching staff, Ampleforth is the ideal place for Sport Scholars to realise their potential.

Facilities

• Fully equipped sports Centre: Fitness suite, Sports Hall, 25m swimming pool, squash courts. Indoor Cricket Nets

• High Performance Functional lifting and athletic development Gym

15 all weather Tennis courts / 8 Netball courts

• Full-size all-weather Hockey Astro

• 11 Rugby pitches

• 5 Cricket pitches / 7 Cricket squares

• 6 Outdoor cricket nets / 4 Indoor cricket nets

• 400m Athletics Track

• 9 Hole Golf Course

• All weather Equestrian facility

Sport Scholarships offered:

• Rugby

• Hockey

• Tennis

• Cricket

• Netball

• Swimming (Basil Hume and Senior Scholarships)

• Cross Country (Basil Hume and Senior Scholarships)

• Athletics (Basil Hume and Senior Scholarships)

“Ampleforth is a school I would recommend to any aspiring sportsman as the combination of the facilities and the coaches provide you with everything you could possibly need to succeed on the sports field.”

Theo Smerdon (O20)

Fly-half for London Irish

Scholarship Programme

We provide a bespoke Scholarship programme through age-appropriate support and stretch, right up to the highest level of individual mentoring, which enables each student to make the skills and physical development needed to achieve their sporting goals at Ampleforth and beyond, while balancing this with their academic and other ambitions.

• Personal Scholarship Mentor to monitor and support progress

• Two or three bespoke games sessions per week, including weekly fixtures

• Bespoke strength and conditioning programme

• Weekly additional skill development sessions

• Access to workshops, masterclasses, and other training

• Access to performance pathway in chosen field

• Access to a full range of sporting activities through our co-curricular programme

• Support and help with preparation for applications for the next developmental stage of Scholarships and also for competitive higher education institutions

• Access to support and careers guidance from a wide network of sporting alumni

Additional for Senior Scholars:

• Twice weekly access to bespoke coaching sessions with their individual coach and mentor (Head of their chosen sport)

• Individual performance analysis and goal setting

Could you become a Sports Scholar?

11+ Development Award

This Award recognises general potential and interest in sport. We encourage participation in broad range of sports at this stage with objectives set and progress monitored by several sports staff. Assessment is held over the course of one day at Ampleforth in January and involves a skills tests and physical assessment in two chosen sports. Applicants are scored on ability, physical literacy and competency, and their potential to excel in a broad range of sports.

• Two or three bespoke games sessions per week, including weekly fixtures

• Access to workshops, masterclasses, and other training

• Access to performance pathway in chosen field

• Access to a full range of sporting activities through our co-curricular programme

• Support and help with preparation for application for a 13+ Sport Scholarship

• Termly review of progress with a report to parents

• Students to log their progress and achievements

• 13+ Basil Hume

Scholarship

Assessment is held over the course of two days at Ampleforth in November and involves skills tests, physical assessments, training sessions in a chosen sport, team building challenges, and an interview. References from current Heads of Sport and coaches as well as evidence in the form of a supporting portfolio and/ or sporting CV are required.

• Personal Scholarship Mentor to set objectives, monitor and support progress

• Two or three bespoke games sessions per week, including weekly fixtures

• Bespoke strength and conditioning programme

• Weekly additional skill development sessions

• Access to workshops, masterclasses, and other training

• Access to performance pathway in chosen field

• Access to a full range of sporting activities through our co-curricular programme

• Support and help with preparation for application for a 16+ Sport Scholarship

• Termly review of progress with a report to parents from Scholarship Mentor

• Students to log their progress and achievements

Could you become a Sports Scholar?

16+ Senior Scholarship

• Personal Scholarship Mentor (Head of chosen sport) to monitor and support progress

• Twice weekly access to bespoke coaching sessions with their individual coach and mentor

• Individual performance analysis and goal setting

• Two or three bespoke games sessions per week, including weekly fixtures

• Bespoke strength and conditioning programme

• Weekly additional skill development sessions

• Access to workshops, masterclasses, and other training

• Access to performance pathway in chosen field

• Access to a full range of sporting activities through our co-curricular programme

• Support and help with preparation for applications for the next developmental stage of sports development and to Scholarships and also for competitive higher education institutions

• Access to support and careers guidance from a wide network of sporting alumni

• Termly review of progress with a report to parents from Scholarship Mentor

• Students to log their progress and achievements in an online portfolio

Every year we run a series of events for families to learn more about scholarships and development awards as well as taster days for students. Please contact Admissions to find out more: admissions@ampleforth.org.uk.

The hard work and commitment the staff and myself put in at the College provided me a stepping stone to performing on an international stage with the ultimate goal of being selected for the Olympic Games in Modern Pentathlon”

Clemmie Cooper (B17) Olympic Pentathlete

Expectations of our Scholars

Scholars are expected to show full commitment to their bespoke sports programme as outlined by the Director of Sport, to represent Ampleforth in competitive sports teams, and act as ambassadors for their sport and school. Senior Scholars are also expected to be sports leaders within the College and contribute to the development of younger students by helping with sports activities. All Sport Scholars should maintain a portfolio of all their sporting achievements and progress. Scholarships are monitored and the appropriateness of the award is reviewed annually should students fail to continue to meet these standards.

Bursaries

Those in need of financial support, are encouraged to apply for means-tested bursaries. The award of a scholarship is a very strong indicator of a student who is likely to flourish at Ampleforth, and it can be extremely helpful in supporting a bursary application.

For further information about Sports Scholarships, please contact Will James, Director of Sport: wjj@ampleforth.org.uk

For general information about scholarships or the assessment process, please contact the Admissions Office:

admissions@ampleforth.org.uk or 01439 766000