SPORT

Scholarships may be awarded each year to suitable applicants at year 9 (13+) and year 12 (sixth-form) entry to a value of 5% or 10%. Once a scholarship has been awarded, it is retained to the end of the upper sixth subject to annual review.

Successful applicants will be playing at county level or above for one of the school’s major sports (lacrosse, netball, cricket, tennis and athletics). Ideally, they will also offer a second major sport to school A-team standard or have reached county level or above in one of the other sports played at St Swithun’s.

There is an expectation that sports scholars are fully committed to sport at St Swithun’s, which includes attendance at matches and team practices. All candidates who are offered a sports scholarship must also fulfil the school’s academic entrance requirements.

Candidates are invited to an interview and an assessment day.

Sports scholars will receive:

• Access to specialist sport coaching

• Access to lunchtime clubs, sports lectures and virtual events

• Weekly strength and conditioning sessions

• A scholarship mentor who will:

- Oversee the student’s physical, technical and psychological sporting development

- Direct and advise students along their chosen sporting pathway, inside and outside school.

- Encourage students to take leadership roles within sport

- Advise on managing a balance between sporting interests and other commitments both inside and outside school

- Advise on keeping healthy and uninjured, or on rehabilitation in the case of injury

Sports scholars are expected to:

• Be outstanding performers at a high level

• Strive consistently for improvement

• Commit to representing the school and attending practices regularly

• Understand the importance of training, teamwork, the components of fitness and goal setting

• Be ambassadors for St Swithun’s sport