Sport

Fostering a love for physical activity, for life

Reflecting on the sporting programme at Sherborne Prep over the last twelve months stirs many emotions. Joy, elation, camaraderie, frustration, fun... to name a few. Many memories spring to mind and the wonderful photos scattered through this publication act to highlight the huge number of opportunities and sporting endeavour that takes place at SPS.

There have been many successes this year but above and beyond all of those achievements, the manner in which our pupils continue to approach their Sport speaks volumes for the culture that we have worked hard to generate and protect over the last few years. The atmosphere during games afternoons, the sense of fun, camaraderie and the spirit with which our teams play is an absolute joy to be witness. Winning is not the driving force at SPS: a positive approach to improving and working hard, alongside a balance of enjoyment and sportsmanship is paramount and has been in clear evidence yet again this year.

On the individual front, there are too many to mention but it has been such a pleasure to share in so many county, regional, national and international successes throughout the year.

There have been some wonderful highlights though. The progress of mixed sports along with the continued emergence and development of girls’ cricket, has been wonderful to witness. The trip to Twickenham to watch so many pupils playing in a festival has to be up there and of course, the progress and performance of our U11 boys in reaching the national hockey finals was amazing. Our year 8s have led the way and have really set the tone at the top of the school. On the individual front, there are too many to mention but it has been such a pleasure to share in so many county, regional, national and international successes throughout the year. Our pupils really are a talented bunch!

The group of staff within our programme also deserve a special mention. They always go above and beyond and are so flexible, positive and willing to help. As a team, they have led from the front, supported and encouraged the children throughout and have adapted to new approaches and the constraints of the last few years with a smile. In addition to the visible team coaches, the hard work that Mr Thomas does in the pool and Mrs McFarlane within the PE programme, should not go unnoticed.

This is an exciting time for SPS Sport. The wonderful recognition of our hard work and approach through winning the ISOTY Award for Sporting Achievement was a real feather in our cap and will help to provide the platform for Sport at SPS to continue to go from strength to strength. This is an exciting time for the school as we move into the next Academic year. There is ever-increasing co-ordination and collaboration with Sherborne School, that will see more and more connections in terms of staffing, facility development and opportunities for the pupils. 2021-2022 has been a real cracker and has certainly showcased all that is good about our sporting programme.