Sports Scholarship Programme

Scholarship Curriculum and Mentoring

Successful candidates will be involved in a scholarship curriculum which includes an individual mentor who will meet with the scholar regularly and support them throughout the year. Scholars are also required to attend termly scholarship seminars/webinars with guests speakers who will deliver session on topics relevant to their sporting programmes. There will also be the opportunity for the senior scholars to do some mentoring of their own whilst working with younger age groups squads both in the off season and during the season. Each scholar will receive a progress report at the end of the academic year and a review of scholarships will take place at the end of Year 8 and Year 11.

Scholar Support

One of the most important aspects of being a sports scholar is being able to combine the demands of their sporting programme with their academic studies. This is even more important for cricket scholars who must contend with public examinations during their season. Scholars occasionally require some additional support to manage their workload and schedules and this is facilitated through the following:

1. Scholarship Mentor - scholars have access to a mentor throughout their time at the School who are there to support them with managing their sporting and academic commitments as well as setting and monitoring targets. Mentors and scholars will meet regularly.

Scholars Weekly Schedule

Each cricket scholar will work closely with the Head of Cricket and need to show excellent determination and organisation skills due to significant training and academic commitments throughout the year and the challenge of balancing preparing for external examinations and performing at a high level during the summer term.

During the off season (Michaelmas & Lent terms) cricket scholars are expected to commit to a busy weekly schedule to include an after-School session with School and Bucks CB, at least a 1 to 1 session and, for pupils in Years 9-13, two strength & conditioning sessions a week. During the cricket season scholars will continue with their 1 to 1, strength & conditioning sessions but also have two timetabled cricket sessions and a minimum of one fixture a week (often two). All sessions are playercentred with the aim of improving their technical, mental and physical approach to their overall performance. The School also actively encourages successful candidates to participate in other sports.

2. Physiotherapist – the School physiotherapist runs a weekly clinic and works closely with the Athletic Development coaches to design and implement suitable programmes for the sports scholars and elite athletes as well delivering required treatments and rehabilitation.

3. Athletic Development – Berkhamsted has two full time Athletic Development Coaches who provide all our elite sportsmen and women with Strength & Conditioning programmes. Athletic Development has become and integral part of the Berkhamsted sports programmes and it is imbedded within all our teaching so that students.

4. Tutor & Head of House – every pupil at Berkhamsted will have a tutor and House master who oversees their pastoral care and academic progress. These key members of staff will also liaise with the scholars’ mentor when required.

5. Boarding House Master – a range of residential boarding opportunities (full, weekly, flexi) are available at Berkhamsted and a number of our senior scholars have chosen to board with us. The boarding staff are experienced in working with understanding the needs of pupils on sports scholarships.

6. Learning Support - the learning support team offer study skills support and extra academic support on a 1 to 1 basis to those who require additional help with any academic studies. This has proven to be invaluable for some pupils who have found the transition between Schools a challenge.

7. School Counselling – the team of counsellors offer additional support to all pupils whenever required.