S P O R T

Not a rugby school – the oval ball finds itself in the unaccustomed category of a minority sport here. Hockey and football are where it’s at, with cricket, swimming and tennis hot on their heels. ‘Sport was the reason we chose the school,’ said parent after parent, who also appreciate that elite is both ‘normal and nurtured’. ‘My daughter plays U16 for England and that’s not unusual here.’ For hockey alone there are two floodlit waterbased Astros, a sand-based Astro and indoor pitches – plus eye-in-the-sky for nuanced analysis. No fewer than twelve football pitches and Repton girls are currently national champions in every year group while boys have gone on to play professionally for Watford, Derby County and Sheffield Albion.

Cricket pitches in enviable nick and it was lovely to see the courts being used (as are many of the facilities here) by villagers Swimming teacher coached the Australian Olympic swimming team and underwater cameras soon to be fitted in line with head's aim to boost performance in this sport Eton fives popular – courts recently refurbished Niche options include golf, fencing and badminton Strength and conditioning commended by students, including dedicated gym space – ‘great for post-injury,’ said one Weekly online gym classes and oodles of fitness videos during lockdowns

But with no floodlit pitches the winter timetable comes in for an unpopular rejig

‘It’s hard sitting in an English lesson at 6pm on a Friday’ ‘Not enough attention on athletics,’ was another niggle

Hockey and football are where it’s at, with cricket, swimming and tennis hot on their heels.