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Habs Sports Guidebook

2025 - 2026

Welcome to Sport at Habs Girls’ School

The PE and sport provision at Habs Girls’ School is a vibrant and inclusive programme, with a high level of student engagement across all year groups.

Whether students are representing the school at county, regional, or national level, or simply enjoying the social and wellbeing benefits of physical activity, our programme is designed to support and inspire every individual.

Our focus on both performance and participation ensures a thriving sporting culture that promotes personal growth, teamwork, and school spirit. From elite athletes to recreational enthusiasts, every student is encouraged to find joy and confidence through sport.

We are proud to lead a programme that champions excellence while prioritising wellbeing and inclusion. Our ambitious co-curricular offering enables Habs to stand out as a leading school for sport, with a reputation that continues to grow nationally. As highlighted in our most recent ISI report, the breadth, depth, and quality of our provision is exceptional.

LAUREN SCOTT AND LIZZIE WRIGHT

ACTING CO-DIRECTORS OF SPORT

LAUREN SCOTT LIZZIE WRIGHT

Sports at Habs

Sport at Habs is much more than just competition and results though – it is an integral part of the school experience, promoting resilience, teamwork, and leadership in every student.

You will see a very clear emphasis on character and values with ‘The Habs Way’ being the foundation for everything we try to do. PE and school sport becomes the vehicle for this to succeed as we work to ensure that our students leave us as better people and fully prepared to make a profound impact in wider society.

It is because of this, that individual students and teams enjoy regular and consistent success at county, regional and national levels across a staggering range of activities. There is no narrow focus here as we encourage and support everyone to find their passion for sport and sees elements of high performance everywhere you look. It should come as no surprise then that we continue to experience some of the most successful times of sporting results in the history of Habs’ sport. The bar has been set

at a very high level, and we are going to enjoy seeing us try to better it again this year!

The introduction of Sports Scholarships, and the accompanying broader support offered through our incredible High-Performance Programme, shows that Habs is serious about supporting our very best athletes as they strive to make the most of their sporting potential.

In producing this guidebook, we hope that it provides a sense of what PE and sport at Habs is about for those considering us, but also a point of reference for those who have made the leap and are starting what promises to be an exciting sporting journey together!

Sport at Habs Girls Dream:

The Benefits of Physical Education, Games and School Sport

Physical Education (PE) and sport play a vital role in the holistic development of our students. Beyond the physical benefits, they teach essential life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and leadership.

Participation in PE and sport helps students understand the importance of discipline, safety, and fair play, while also

developing their ability to cope with both success and failure.

Research has shown that regular physical activity enhances cognitive function, leading to improved concentration, resilience, memory, and overall academic performance.

Engagement in PE and sport fosters lifelong habits that

enhance physical health, mental well-being, and social connections. It adds a dynamic and enriching dimension to school life, helping students to grow into well-rounded individuals.

Enabling all to flourish through Habs Sport. Dream big, achieve success, be happy, healthy, develop character and have a positive view of the world which leads to a profound impact in society.

The three big themes

ACTIVE WELLBEING

- Provide a broad and varied sporting environment which encourages everyone within the school community to make better choices about lifestyle, particularly in relation to physical activity, diet and nutrition, sleep/ recovery and understanding the link between physical and mental wellbeing

- Encourage everyone to meet movement targets and engage through fun yet challenging physical activity

- Ensure we provide a clear pathway for physical movement development from Reception to Upper Sixth

- Clearly identify social and wellbeing aspects which also make up physical literacy

HIGH PERFORMANCE

- Create an environment that maximises the chances for students to be successful and lead our aspiration for our individuals and teams to compete at the highest levels of school sport

- Ensure all students have opportunities to experience high levels of competition through a broad range of levels which provide an appropriate level of challenge

CHARACTER AND VALUES

- Provide opportunities to develop skills and values so that students leave us as better people

- Use sports and physical activity to develop a better understanding and application of the school values of Ambition, Curiosity, Courage and Community

- Ensure that The Habs Way underpins all that we do

We do this by...

- Offering all students a positive experience of sport*, where all abilities are appropriately coached and competitionis both provided and encouraged

- Focusing on the benefits of sports –physical, social, mental for developing good character, including ‘The Habs Way’

- Providing an appropriate breadth of choice within the games and co-curricular programmes, encouraging all students to develop a love for sport

- Focusing on fundamental movement principles, positive values and behaviour, and advocating for the benefits sports at Habs can have on social development as we seek to ensure that all students fully develop their physical literacy

- Identifying ways in which we can encourage all members of the school community to engage in enjoyable and physically active lifestyles

- Seeking to employ and develop the highest quality staff who work in the highest quality facilities and with the best resources available to them

* Note that the term sport is used here for ease of reference. The term should be taken to include all aspects of physical education, physical activity, games, competitive and noncompetitive sport.

What is The Habs Way?

It is our core identity which is shaped by our focus on character and values. Anyone involved with Habs Sport, whether as a player, coach, official or spectator, should be easily identified by the actions and behaviours listed below. As a result, Habs Sports should have a growing reputation for these key areas:

The Habs Way

All students are expected to act as ambassadors for sport at Habs and to model the expectations highlighted as part of the ‘Habs Way’.

We are always well presented, articulate and act with kindness towards others

We understand that everyone is learning and show empathy for others as we adopt a people first and everyone is welcome approach

We are always striving to be the best that we can be and expect to see excellence everywhere

We show confidence without arrogance and take 100% responsibility

We are fiercely competitive but always play and act with respect and sportsmanship

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

Player expectations

ANY HABS TEAM SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIABLE BECAUSE THEY:

- Look smart and professional at all times, on and off the pitch.

- Care deeply about their team and are proud to represent their school.

- Arrive punctually and leave nothing behind when they leave.

- Are welcoming, respectful and friendly to everyone they encounter through sport, always thanking opposition, officials and supporters.

- Are independent, taking responsibility for their own preparation, warm-up and performance.

- Are curious, with questioning rather than relying on directive coaching. Encouraged to be confident and to think for themselves.

- Show leadership, through a designated leadership group in every squad, who lead warm-ups, team talks, etc. but also in their individual behaviour.

- Show positivity, resilience, grit and determination regardless of outcome.

- Have an identifiable style of play that is consistent through all age groups and aligns with the school’s values.

- Maintain personal fitness levels and physical activity through lifelong healthy living and we hope through involvement in sport and physical activity long after they leave Habs.

- Support our ‘everyone is welcome approach’ by challenging unhelpful stereotypes, being allies for one another, not tolerating bullying or behaviours which might belittle others and ensuring that everyone can find a safe place in which to enjoy physical activity.

- Are supported by parents and staff who are committed, positive, well-informed, supportive and celebrative of all players and officials (and who do not seek to coach them).

Staffing expectations

ANY HABS COACH SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIABLE BECAUSE THEY:

- Look smart and professional at all times.

- Care deeply about their squad and the individuals within it and are proud to coach them.

- Understand that they are coaching the person in front of them and not just the sport being played.

- Arrive punctually and leave nothing behind when they leave.

- Are welcoming, respectful and friendly to everyone they encounter through sport, thanking opposition coaches, players, officials and supporters.

- Are well-prepared and set high standards, deliver training that is rigorous and ensures progression, as well as being enjoyable and inclusive.

- Coach independent thinking and decision making, to empower players to lead for themselves on the pitch.

- Coach an identifiable style of play that is consistent through all age groups and aligns with the schools’ values.

- Show positivity and determination regardless of outcome.

- Communicate effectively and openly with parents and supporters, sharing high expectations and gratitude. -

- Seek continuous improvement of their own performance through reflection, feedback and professional development.

- Role model personal fitness levels and physical activity through lifelong healthy living.

- Make a commitment to support practices after school, weekend fixtures (and potentially tours outside term time).

Parents, spectators and visitor expectations

ANY HABS SPECTATOR SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIABLE BECAUSE THEY:

- Any Habs spectator should be immediately identifiable because they:

- Are positive role models and lead by example. They offer praise and applause to all participants, for those representing Habs and competing against us and reinforce and celebrate good play, effort and improvement. They do not shout at any child for making a mistake or losing a competition.

- Support our aims which encourage good sportsmanship and positive values which are the foundation of so much that we do at Habs. They support us when we ask for students to “Play the Habs Way.”

- Appreciate and fully support the aims and expectations set by the school relating to sports fixtures, attendance and behaviour.

- Refrain from publicly questioning the judgement of officials and staff. They recognise that coaches, officials and teachers give their time, energy and experience to provide guidance and the opportunities for children. They recognise the value and importance of the staff and will not tolerate harassment towards players, coaches or officials.

- Understand that our community is an inclusive one and set an example by being friendly to everyone, including the opposition parents and teams.

- Support our ‘everyone is welcome approach’ by challenging unhelpful stereotypes, encouraging allyship, not tolerating bullying or behaviours which might belittle others and helping to ensure that everyone can find a safe place in which to enjoy physical activity.

- Avoid coaching their child or child’s team during training or competitive games as they recognise that this could detract from the messages being received from our staff. Support the messages received from our coaching staff and help to reinforce these with the conversations at home.

PE and Games

The Physical Education programme ensures that all girls in Years 7, 8 and 9 receive one period (one hour) of physical development per week. The PE programme includes the following activities: Swimming (including water polo); Gymnastics, Dance and Health Related Fitness (Autumn/ Spring term) Tennis and cricket (Summer term). PE lessons are taught by Habs PE teachers. We

monitor each students progress as well as making the lessons fun and engaging.

In addition to the Physical Education programme, all students throughout the school participate in one afternoon of the Games programme (one hour). Here, students will either participate in Lacrosse or Netball in the Autumn/Spring terms and Athletics in the Summer term.

Sports Science is offered as a two-year GCSE course commencing in Year 10. AQA Sports Science (Physical Education) is also offered as an A Level course in the Sixth Form and the AQA specification is followed for GCSE in Years 10 and 11. A Level classes are now collaboratively taught with the boys school.

Collaboration With Habs Boys’ School

At Habs, we offer the ‘best of both worlds’ through our exciting, inclusive sports programme.

With extraordinarily high numbers of students regularly participating in physical activity, our programme combines elite performance with broad participation. Collaboration with the Boys’ School adds immense value, providing shared facilities and staffing, joint training sessions, tours, and competitive fixtures. This unique partnership enriches the sporting experience, fostering teamwork and camaraderie. Our success spans over 40 sports, with students excelling at county, regional, and national levels, while also benefiting from the social and developmental aspects of sport, much of which is offered through both single sex and coeducational sessions.

We have girls regularly playing in boys’ cricket and football teams, there are combined teams for athletics, squash, gymnastics and swimming, and numerous examples of collaborative o-curricular sessions across a typical week.

Perhaps our most visible examples of this collaboration across the schools are seen in the hugely successful HabsDash community run and the breathtaking Joint Sports Day held at the StoneX Stadium.

This takes place every Tuesday, using a 3.5km route around the

We welcome around 170 runners each week, keeping track of personal improvements and their contributions towards house totals. We produce results sheets each week on the day of the run so that runners can track their progress as well as work towards a half-marathon, a marathon

Themed events are a big part of the HabDash - these include the SantaDash, PurpleDash (Papyrus Charity), GivingDash, General Election Dash and RainbowDash. This gives students a chance to dress up, support charities and enjoy running

Sports Day

A brilliant opportunity to see a fully collaborative approach to school sport as everyone from Year 7 and above from both the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools come together to compete under combined franchise banners.

There really is not another Sports Day of this type being done like this anywhere in the UK. Hosting it at The StoneX Stadium really has helped to elevate the sense of occasion and it is fabulous to see our students, resplendent in their combined House colours, filling an entire stand. The ambition for every student to be involved in events which includes nearly the full range of those traditionally seen as part of Track and Field, the hugely popular Community Mile, and of course the weird and

wonderful activities which make up the in-field spectacle, means that engagement levels are very high. Our students really get what it means to be a part of this now and they clearly help to make the day such a success. Our very best athletes have an incredible opportunity to showcase their talent, helping to set high standards and role model what it takes to perform at the level that they do, but the courage shown by others to get fully involved remains the standout feature

of the day. This desire to do all that they can to perform to their personal best, to not let the side down, and to hopefully enjoy their moment competing in front of such a large audience really does show the values we are trying to encourage. The sense of community with staff and students coming together to lift each other up and fully support our ‘everyone is welcome’ approach to sport at Habs helps to make this the very best day in our sporting calendar.

Co-Curricular

Whether aiming for competitive success or participating for enjoyment, well-being or social reasons, our students can engage in approximately 160 co-curricular PE and sport activities beyond the standard timetable.

Lunchtime, after-school and weekend sessions are available to ensure all students can participate. These activities are run by our dedicated team of sports staff, with additional support from visiting specialists in specific disciplines.

The breadth, depth and range of activities on offer is simply staggering and our students enjoy one of the largest cocurricular sporting programmes in the UK. There is undeniably something on offer for everyone and this is reflected by the excellent participation rates seen across all age groups every week.

The main focus sports, which are given priority in their respective terms, are Football (Autumn), Hockey (Spring) and Cricket (Summer). Each activity involves substantial numbers and maintains a full list of block fixtures on each Saturday of the term. Students can opt to be involved in a number of sporting opportunities across the full range of over 30 activities on offer.

We publish our Sporting Success newsletter every term, which showcases our students’ achievements. You can see our latest publication here.

The Co-Curricular programme can all be found on the Habs SOCS website and via the QR code here

Beyond the three focus sports, students can take part in performance sports, competing in inter-school fixtures, or participating at a less competitive level, with a focus more on the benefits relating to regular exercise and social aspects of engagement. Success can be identified in many ways and we seek to celebrate individuals and teams who perform at outstanding levels whilst also recognising the achievements and endeavours of those who enjoy personal bests.

Communication - SOCS

SOCS is used to communicate all information regarding co-curricular activities and fixtures - this includes a team sheet list that is updated weekly.

STUDENT AND PARENT PORTAL

ACCESS TO TIMETABLE

ACCESS TO FIXTURES

ACCESS TO TEAM SHEETS

ACCESS TO TEAM REPORTS

ACCESS TO TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND TIMINGS

REPORTS AND PICTURES

More information can be found by scanning the QR code

Cancellations and changes to fixture times and locations will all be communicated through SOCS.

Students and parents have access to the portal which also includes reports from matches from fixtures. The SOCS access guide can be found by scanning the QR code below.

High Performance and Sports Scholarships

With up to six teams per age group involved in weekly competitive action, we provide extensive opportunities for students to excel in both Physical Education and sports.

Our students achieve sustained success at district, county and national levels, with many showcasing their talent at representative levels. We offer outstanding sessions across the full range of activities offered, leaning on the expertise provided by our own staff and from the external professional staff employed each term. Our High-Performance Programme is supported by industry leading partners and is available to our best performing athletes from Years 7 to Upper Sixth. All of which helps us to meet our aims to see ‘excellence everywhere’ and in everything that we do.

Our strong partnerships with renowned sporting organisations, including London Pulse, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Middlesex County Cricket and Watford Water Polo, offer students the chance to experience professional-level training and competition.

Sports Scholarships, and the accompanying broader support offered through our incredible High-Performance Programme, shows that Habs is serious about supporting our very best athletes as they strive to make the most of their sporting potential.

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 - netball, lacrosse and athletics.

HPP High Performance Programme

Each year the Habs Sport team selects a number of students who show exceptional promise and commitment to sport at Habs for inclusion in this outstanding programme.

These students will be placed in either our Gold, or Silver High Performance Programme (HPP) which will support them during their time at Habs and help them to maximise their potential. The selection for each level is based on their current level of sporting performance, expected potential for further development, and with an expectation that students will act as positive role models as part of The Habs Way.

Each level will reflect the outstanding ability shown by our students across a broad range of activities with those competing regularly at county, academy, regional and national levels featuring across both bands. The Directors of Sport have the final decision regarding the selections made.

Sports scholars will automatically be placed in the Gold programme, alongside pupils who have demonstrated a commitment and ability to play sport at the highest level.

More information about our HPP programme can be found by scanning the QR code

ALL ENROLLED HPP STUDENTS RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING:

- Access to a strong regional and national fixture list

- Excellent partnership relationships with elite clubs, academies and development pathways within the county and region

- Outstanding coaching from the very best coaches, either within Habs or local professionals, who work with our students from the moment they join the Senior School

- Enjoy the benefits of some of the very best sports facilities on offer within the UK

- Access to an extraordinary range of co-curricular activities on offer for those wishing to maintain a balanced route for sporting development and for those looking to explore opportunities in drama, music and the performing arts to name just a few of the options on offer

- Regular high-quality sports tours and visits within the UK and abroad

- Expected to act as ambassadors for sports at Habs and to model the expectations highlighted as part of the ‘Habs Way’.

Gold HPP Students Silver HPP Students

HPP GOLD PACKAGE

- Individualised mentoring sessions with a member of the Habs Sports team

- Support in managing workload and balancing the requirements with high performance sports in a busy and thriving independent school like Habs

- Individualised strength and conditioning programme with Habs Athletic Development coaching staff working closely with clubs/academies

- Regular fitness assessments and monitoring with Habs Athletic Development staff who work closely with clubs/academies

- Nutrition programme delivered by an external provider

- Video analysis of either individual technical aspects of play or team performance

- Off-site visits to include lab testing and to explore links with regards to career pathways as appropriate

- Enrolment on the Independent Coach Education webinar series ‘Supporting Aspiring Athletes Programme’ SPORTS NUTRITION

HPP SILVER PACKAGE

- Mentoring sessions with a current Sixth Form student at Habs Girls, at least once a term

- Individualised strength and conditioning programme with Habs Athletic Development coaching staff working closely with clubs/academies

- Regular fitness assessments and monitoring with Habs Athletic Development staff who work closely with clubs/academies

- Video analysis of either individual technical aspects of play or team performance

- Off-site visits to include lab testing and to explore links with regards to career pathways as appropriate

- Access to seminars and workshops run by specialists