S P O R TI N G S U C C E S S
Habs Sport 1
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A Message from the Director of Sport
At Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, we believe that movement matters. Whether representing the school in national competition, discovering a new activity for the first time, or simply enjoying being active with friends, every student is encouraged to find their place within our sporting community.
Sport and physical activity are far more than a timetable entitlement or co-curricular offering. They are an integral part of the Habs experience and a powerful vehicle through which young people learn about themselves and the world around them. Through moments of success and disappointment, leadership and teamwork, challenge and achievement, our students develop qualities that extend far beyond the sports field. Our purpose is simple: to help every student flourish through movement, sport and challenge so they become active people, good people and ambitious people. This purpose sits at the heart of every lesson, training session, fixture, tour and sporting experience we provide. We are fortunate to deliver this vision within one of the most impressive sporting environments in the country. Set across a remarkable 100-acre campus, our facilities provide an outstanding backdrop to daily life. From our state-of-the-art 25-metre, eight-lane, double-depth swimming pool and expansive playing fields to our specialist indoor training spaces, students have access to facilities that support both participation and performance. Yet it is our people who bring these spaces to life. Our teachers and coaches are passionate educators, mentors and role models who strive to create meaningful experiences for every student, regardless of their starting point. Through our Games programme, students benefit from regular opportunities to represent the school in traditional team sports, competing against strong local, regional and national opposition. For many, these experiences are enriched further through festivals, tournaments and tours both within the UK and overseas. While we celebrate excellence and achievement, we are equally committed to ensuring that every student experiences the enjoyment, camaraderie and sense of belonging that sport can provide. Alongside Games, our Physical Education curriculum focuses on developing every student's physical literacy. We define physical literacy as our relationship with movement and physical activity throughout life. By developing confidence, competence, motivation and understanding, we aim to equip students with the knowledge, skills and habits to lead active, healthy and fulfilling lives long after they leave Habs. Beyond the curriculum, our extensive co-curricular programme provides exceptional breadth and depth of opportunity. Whether pursuing high-performance ambitions, trying something completely new, developing leadership skills or simply finding ways to remain active, students are encouraged to explore their interests and discover activities they will enjoy for years to come. Ultimately, Habs Sport is about people. It is about creating an environment where every student feels valued, supported and inspired to be the very best version of themselves. Whatever their ability, background or previous experience, every student has a place within our community. All are welcome, all are encouraged, all have a place. Mr Peter Pickford Acting Director of Sport and Head of Sports Science
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Overview of Sport at Habs
All students are expected to take part in the Aquatics programme as an important component of their physical education.
Co-Curricular
Co-curricular sport is a fundamental part of life at Habs and provides students with opportunities to develop skills, enjoy physical activity, and represent the school. Sessions take place before school, at lunchtime, and after school, with all activities and sign-up information available on SOCS.
Games
Games takes place every afternoon from 1:55pm to 4:00pm. Each yaer group has one Games Afternoon at Habs and it is a key part of the Habs sporting experience. Students can choose between a range of activities. For Year 7 and Year 8 students this is: • Autumn Term: Football or Rugby • Spring Term: Hockey or Rugby Sevens • Summer Term: Cricket or Athletics For Year 9 to Year 13 students the options are more expansive with additional options being added. This includes badminton, climbing, fitness suite, golf, mountain biking, sailing, softball, squash table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo. During the Autumn and Spring Terms, students are required to wear their Habs Games kit, consisting of: • Reversible navy and light blue Games top • Navy Games shorts • Navy and light blue hooped socks Our Games programme provides students with regular opportunities to develop skills, represent the school, enjoy competition, and foster a lifelong enjoyment of sport.
Physical Education
PE lessons take place during the school day, with students in Year 7-10 receiving one hour of PE per week, typically in the morning. Students in Year 11 have one hour every two weeks. Our PE curriculum is designed to develop physical literacy, giving pupils the confidence, competence, and motivation to remain physically active throughout their lives. During the Autumn and Spring Terms, students will participate in a range of modules including: • Athletic Development • Functional Movement • Gameplay • Aquatics
Habs competes in a wide range of Saturday fixtures throughout the year. If a student is selected for a fixture, attendance is expected. Fixture details, squad selections, and timings are published on SOCS. We strongly encourage all students to engage in as many sporting and co-curricular opportunities as possible, helping them build confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a lifelong passion for sport.
Sport and Physical Activity by numbers
19 Competitive sports available 26 Football teams, 24 Hockey teams and 24 Cricket teams Over
1000 fixtures played last year
2 National Football finals in the last two years
2 National Water polo finals in the last two years
5 cricket county cups championships in the last 2 years
3 18 sports clubs a day, 90 per week.
An average of
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The Habs Way Our Purpose: To help every student flourish through movement, sport and challenge. Active People
We are always well presented, articulate and act with kindness towards others
Good People
Ambitious People
We are fiercely competitive but always play and act with respect and sportsmanship
We are always striving to be the best that we can be and expect to see excellence everywhere
We understand that everyone is learning and show empathy for others as we adopt a people first and everyone is welcome approach
We show confidence without arrogance and take 100% responsibility
We encourage everyone involved to challenge unhelpful stereotypes, encourage allyship, demand a zerotolerance approach to bullying or behaviours which might belittle others, and support everyone in finding a safe place in which to enjoy physical activity
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Sports Scholarship at Habs Sports scholarships are awarded to candidates in recognition of sustained sporting excellence, talent and future potential. Candidates will be active members of their top ranked school sports teams and are likely to be involved in sporting clubs outside of school with representative experience or its equivalent at county level or above. Outstanding skill, expertise or potential in any one or several sporting fields will be considered, but candidates are encouraged to show their potential in at least one of the focus sports at Habs. Award holders will be ambassadors for sport who will make a full contribution to the sporting life of the school. Scholars will be allocated a mentor, who will encourage their sporting participation in time, sports scholars will become mentors for younger award holders. The value of a scholarship is usually between 10 to 15% of school fees (but can be up to a maximum of 25% in very exceptional circumstances). Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the school, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance
Habs Sport Partners At Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, we believe that strong partnerships enhance the sporting experience for every student. We work closely with a range of professional organisations, local clubs and specialist providers to support the delivery of our extensive sports and physical activity programme. Our partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club brings expert coaching into our football programme, helping players of all abilities develop their skills, confidence and understanding of the game. Beyond school sport, we are proud to support a growing Old Haberdashers sporting community, including the recently established Old Haberdashers Hockey Club and Old Haberdashers Junior Cricket Club, providing exciting opportunities for continued participation and development. These links, alongside our close relationships with clubs such as Watford Water Polo, JH Cricket Academy and EJB Gymnastics, ensure that students benefit from specialist coaching, clear development pathways and outstanding sporting opportunities both during and beyond their time at Habs.
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AstroTurf's
Sports Facilities 1
2x 11-a-side hockey pitches 4x 7-a-side hockey pitches 18x Tennis courts
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Parks Pitches
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3x 11-a-side football pitches 1x 9-a-side hockey pitches 1x Grass wicket & 1x Astro wicket
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The Medburn Sports Centre
25m 8 Lane Pool Medburn Sports Hall Fitness Suite 2x Squash Courts
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McGowan Sports Hall Solai Indoor Cricket Nets Climbing Wall Bouldering Wall
Pennes Pitches
4x 11-a-side football/rugby pitches 2x Training zones Artificial 100m track Discus and shotput cage 1x Grass square & 1 Astro square 2x sanded jumping pits 1x High jump area
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Top Pitches
9x Artificial cricket nets & 6x grass cricket nets 6x 9-a-side football/rugby pitches 1 Grass square Cricket pavilion
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Expert Teaching and Coaching
What does this mean? We pride ourselves of having expert teachers and coaches across our broad range of physical activity and sport. The following pages aim to give you a quick introduction to key figures in our outstanding team.
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Meet the team Mr Peter Pickford Acting Director of Sport & Head of Sports Science Mr Pickford leads sport across Habs Boys from Reception through to Sixth Form, overseeing the strategic development and day-today delivery of the school's extensive sporting programme. He is responsible for coordinating sporting opportunities for pupils aged 4 to 18 and ensuring excellence across participation, performance, and wellbeing. A graduate of Pembroke College, Oxford, and Sheffield Hallam University, Mr Pickford has a strong background in rugby and aquatics. He represented England and Great Britain in Water Polo, competing at an elite level before moving into sport education and leadership Mr Wayne Thomas Head of Football Mr Thomas leads the Habs Football Programme and coaches the Senior 1st XI. He oversees football development across all age groups, creating opportunities for players to develop technically, tactically and competitively. Before moving into coaching and education, Mr Thomas enjoyed a successful professional playing career, featuring for clubs including Southampton and Stoke City in the English professional game. He later moved into football management and coaching and is a graduate of the University of St Mary's. Mr David Cooper Head of Hockey Mr Cooper leads the Habs Hockey Programme and coaches the Senior 1st XI. He is passionate about developing hockey players at every stage of their journey and helping pupils reach their full potential both on and off the pitch. A graduate of the University of Bath, Mr Cooper enjoyed a distinguished playing career in the English Premier Division with Hampstead & Westminster Hockey Club. He also captained the England Indoor Hockey Team, demonstrating leadership at the highest level of the sport. Mr Jamie Hewitt Director of Cricket Mr Hewitt leads cricket across the Habs Elstree Schools and coaches the Habs Boys Senior 1st XI. He oversees the development of players from beginner level through to those aspiring to perform at representative and professional standards. A former professional cricketer, Mr Hewitt played for both Middlesex and Kent County Cricket Clubs. Alongside his role at Habs, he serves as the Fast-Bowling Lead for the Middlesex Academy, working with some of the region's most talented young cricketers.
Mr P Pickford
Mr W Thomas
Mr D Cooper
Mr J Hewitt
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Meet the team Mr Alastair Metcalfe Head of Rugby & Head of Strouts Mr Metcalfe leads the Habs Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens programme and coaches a number of school teams throughout the year. A graduate of Loughborough University, Mr Metcalfe has been a cornerstone of Habs sport for more than 30 years. During his playing career, he represented England Colts (Under-21s) and earned the distinction of being a Cambridge Blue. Mr Edi Brkovic Head of Aquatics Mr Brkovic leads the aquatics programme across the Habs Elstree Schools and coaches the Habs Water Polo teams. Originally from Dubrovnik, Croatia, a city renowned for its water polo heritage, Mr Brkovic played junior water polo at VK Jug before moving into coaching. He is currently Head Coach of Watford Water Polo Club and has coached numerous Great Britain Junior Water Polo squads. Miss Amy Godsave Head of Athletics and High-Performance Miss Godsave leads our Athletics and High-Performance Programme (HPP) across the Habs Elstree Schools. Miss Godsave Swam for Team England prior to university. Attending the Loughborough University she was part of their world renowned swimming programme Miss Godsave helps our students prepare for the world of High-Performance. Mr Dan Kerry Teacher of Physical Education and Games Mr Kerry is a highly experienced member of the team previously holding leaderships roles as Head of PE and Head of Cricket. Mr Kerry is a graduate of Loughborough University and is a key part of Habs Sport. During his cricketing playing career, he represented Middlesex 2nd XI, Dorset 1st XI. Mr Kerry also enjoyed an expansive club career across football, rugby, basketball and cricket. Graduate Athletic Development Coaches Partners with Areté Performance We are lucky to have a partnership with Areté Performance who provide expert coaches in performance management, sports science, coaching and rehabilitation services. They work with several high-performance teams including Chelsea FC, Wolverhampton FC and England Sevens. Our current athletic development coaching staff have worked with Middlesex Cricket, Derby County FC and England Athletics. Mr Keen, Mr Birch and Miss Stapelton look to develop all our students' physical literacy and athleticism no matter their ability.
Mr A Metcalfe
Mr E Brkovic
Miss A Godsave
Mr D Kerry
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