Sport at Kimbolton

Games and PE

Games lessons are taught by specialist teaching staff and professional coaches right from Year 1 all the way through the Prep School.

Kimbolton School’s vision when it comes to sport is ‘Memorable moments of meaningful movement’. An ethos to cultivate a passion for lifelong learning and enjoyment of Physical Education and Games, where students constantly strive to ‘achieve their best’.

We encourage children to develop physical literacy, knowledge, understanding and confidence to lead a healthy active lifestyle.

This is done by creating environments and experiences whereby all pupil leave Kimbolton Prep School with the motivation, competence and confidence to engage in physical activity for life.

At the school we adapt a ‘sport for all approach’ which focuses on enjoyment, learning, participation and competition. Children will experience different learning environments as they progress through the Prep School.

Sport in Lower Prep

All classes in Lower Prep have three periods of physical activity each week. In Reception we have one PE lesson which focusses on body management, gymnastics, dance, cooperation and solving problems, manipulation and control, speed, agility and travel.

In addition, we have one drama lesson. Swimming commences after the October half term when the pupils are settled.

In Year 1 and 2 games all pupils will participate in the fundamental skills associated to the school’s main sports: hockey, football, netball, cricket and tennis.

In Year 1, competitive sports are progressively introduced in the form of games lessons. By the start of Year 2, children participate fully in the major games curriculum taught in the Upper Prep, with professional coaches leading the sessions.

Weekly PE lessons also take place, in which gymnastics, dance, fitness for fun, ball skills, tennis and athletics are taught in class groups. All children in the Lower Prep swim weekly throughout the year.

Sport in Upper Prep

All classes receive one PE lesson per week. These aim to provide pupils with experience of a variety of physical activities and to help them understand the importance of health and fitness.

PE activities complement the team sports offered in Games lessons by encompassing key movement and co-ordination skills, as well as the principles of teamwork, competition and giving of ones best. Gymnastics and dance lessons encourage children to demonstrate their creative skills through expressive movement.

In PE lessons in the summer term, pupils will play tennis, and to potentially represent the school in ten and athletics, with an emphasis on each child reaching their personal potential in a range of disciplines.

Each year group participates in three hours and 20 minutes of Games lessons per week, split into two 1 hour 40 minute sessions. All children have the opportunity to represent the school throughout their time in the Upper Prep in competitive fixtures against other schools. Fixtures are detailed in the Calendar and Newsletter.

There are also the occasional Saturday fixtures and tournaments during the academic year.

Our co-curricular sports programme presents myriad opportunities for the pupils to experience a variety of sports at a variety of levels. A typical term’s co-curricular sports provision would include lunchtime net sessions, options-based after school clubs in our major games, tennis and swimming squad training, gymnastics and dance.

Kit requirements

Games kit includes the long games socks, striped games top for Lower Prep and also the House coloured t-shirt for Upper Prep. The PE kit includes the white t-shirt and white socks.

Uniform information

2024/5 timetable

Day	PE	Games	Swimming
Monday	4P 5V 6P	Year 3 Year 4	Year 1 (2:00-3:00pm)
Tuesday	6V 6M	Year 5	Year 4
Wednesday	4P 5M	Year 6	Year 3
Thursday	3P 3M 5P	Year 3 Year 4	Year 5 (up to Feb half term) Year 6 (from Feb half term onwards) both am, Year 2 (2:00-3:00pm)
Friday	3V 4M 4V	Year 5 Year 6	Reception (1:45-2:45pm, after the first half term)

Representative sport

Upper Prep fixtures

All pupils from Years 3 to 6 have opportunities to take part
in sporting fixtures against other schools, as well as regular
House matches. Teams compete regularly in football, hockey, netball and cricket, and we also participate in swimming galas, cycle-cross, gymnastics, athletics competitions and cross country events.

To represent the school is an honour and pupils are expected to play if selected.

Fixtures will predominantly take place on games afternoons. Thursdays for Years 3 and 4, and on Wednesdays and Fridays for Years 5 and 6.

All year groups may also have fixtures at the weekend on an occasional basis.

Every pupil will have the opportunity to represent the school at some point throughout the year (weather cancellations permitting) and so it is therefore important that you as parents know when your child/children will be involved and where to find all the relevant information.

Please note:

Pupils should request written permission from the Head of Prep to be excused.
We appreciate that variations in collection times, especially for away fixtures, present some logistical challenges for parents. However, to facilitate the organisation of collection arrangements, fixtures are published in the following places:
- In the school calendar
- Venues and timings in the weekly newsletter and on the sports notice board in the form of team sheets (in the courtyard, outside the year 3 classrooms).
- SOCS digital system which shows all fixtures, information and team sheets. Parents can use the following password when required to login to this website: KimSport2024

School calendar

SOCS sports fixtures

Fixture information

Please arrive at the main entrance for all home sporting events and exit via the archway (old entrance).

The coaching and supervision of pupils must be left to Kimbolton School staff, and we ask that parents only interact with their children from a distance. Only when invited by a member of staff should a parent approach their child.

Sport is instrumental in developing independence in young people, and we thank you for your cooperation in facilitating this.

Selection of pupils for fixture teams will be established by their development stage and conversations prior to the event with the other school(s). Teams are fluid, allowing opportunities for children to play in different teams if staff believe it will benefit their development. We will aim to make the afternoon of sport a good experience with the hope that all fixtures will be competitive. Children may be asked to play in different positions during a fixture, as well as adopt different tactics and ideas. This is something we will encourage in lessons as well as fixture is part of their education in sport.

The school will also enter several regional and national sport competitions during the year. For these tournaments the games staff will select what they believe to be the strongest possible team for potential success. These generally tend to be U11 events which means pupils from Year 6 and Year 5 would be considered.

Spectator guidelines

Reproduced below are the thought-provoking guidelines sent to independent preparatory schools by the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools regarding children and sport. We support these excellent principles and are confident that all supporters of Kimbolton School teams endorse them:

Parents’ guidelines

Remember that children develop at different rates and react differently to the same pressures.

Don’t force an unwilling child to participate in sport; he or she is not playing to satisfy your ambitions.
Children are involved in organised sport for their enjoyment and not yours.
Encourage your child always to play by the rules.
Teach your child that effort and teamwork are as important as victory so that the result of each game is accepted without undue disappointment.
Turn defeat into victory by helping your child work towards skill improvement and a positive sporting attitude.
Never ridicule or shout at your child for making a mistake or losing a competition.
Children learn best by example. Applaud good play by members of all teams not just your own.
Do not question publicly the officials’ judgement and never their honesty.
Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from children’s sport.
Recognise the value and importance of coaches. Allow them to decide what is best. They give their time, energy and experience to provide guidance for your child.
Set an example by being friendly to the opposition parents.
Emphasise enjoyment and fun. Praise and reinforce effort and improvement.
Be aware of the physical demands that sport places on your child. Participation in both school and club matches may be too much for some individuals. Priority should be given to playing for the school as stated in the terms and
conditions of many schools.

Spectators’ guidelines

Spectators should remember the following:

Children play organised sport for their own fun. They are not there solely to entertain you and they are not miniature adults nor professional sportsmen and women.
Do not harass or swear at players, coaches or officials
Applaud good play by both sides and show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
Never ridicule or scold a child for making a mistake during a competitive match of any kind.
Condemn the use of violence in all forms.
Respect the decisions made by officials.
Encourage players always to play to the rules.
Relax and enjoy the game whether your team wins or not.
Remember that young people learn by example so make sure that yours is the right one!

Swimming

All Prep School pupils (including Reception, from October half term) receive swimming lessons at the School Pool and are taught by professionally qualified swimming coaches.

Reception pupils travel to the Pool in the school’s minibuses. Older pupils walk along the Duchess Walk under the supervision of staff. They therefore need warm coats, hats and wellingtons during the winter months.

For Lower Prep pupils the emphasis is on developing water confidence and learning the basics of good stroke technique. Classes are divided into ability groups, with an instructor for each group.

From Year 3, lessons concentrate on fine-tuning stroke techniques. Pupils are also introduced to basic water safety coupled with lifesaving skills and diving. Pupils are generally taught in three ability groups although any non- or weak swimmers are given separate tuition until they are capable of joining the main class.

It is our policy to concentrate on the development of good strokes before working on achieving distance awards. In order to monitor development and progress every pupil is assessed at the end of each term. Pupils may also gain awards and certificates for distances achieved and for displaying good stroke technique.

A qualified lifeguard on the poolside supervises all lessons and public sessions. The Prep School has a swimming team and often participates in galas with other local schools and in national competitions with considerable success.