Sport at Kimbolton
Our Sports Department is responsible for Physical Education (PE) and Games (including sports fixtures), and organises a wide range of activities that cater for everyone, from the committed athlete to those participating for exercise and enjoyment.
Our aim is to provide a PE and Games programme that facilitates all Kimbolton pupils to acquire the skill and enthusiasm for long-term involvement in sport that will stay with them throughout their Kimbolton career and beyond. In the First to Fourth Forms, your child will participate in both PE and Games lessons; the Fifth and Sixth Forms undertake Senior Games afternoons only.
PE
PE is taught in form groupings so boys and girls work together. They wear a House polo top, PE shorts, skort or leggings, trainer socks and trainers. Swimming kit is required throughout the year. A note or email from a parent is required if a pupil is unable to participate in the lesson and they must come prepared to undertake non physical tasks.
The PE curriculum offers a wide range of activities to develop physical literacy, including skill development, creativity, col- laboration and problem solving. This is taught through net/wall activities, swimming, striking & fielding activities, invasion games and creative movement topics.
Swimming
Ingrams complete two half terms of swimming in PE, focusing on stroke development and water confidence.
Third Formers undertake one half term of swimming focused on lifesaving skills and water polo. A note or email from a parent is required if a pupil is unable to swim. If a pupil is unable to swim but is physically well, the pupil should bring their normal PE kit including trainers. The school swim team use the pool for training and galas.
The Pool is open to the public during weekends, evenings and school holi- days. It offers one-to-one and group lessons, as well as sessions including parent and child, adults only, floats fun and aqua fit. All Kimbolton pupils may swim for a nominal fee during public sessions (a few exceptions apply).
Games
All year groups have a Games afternoon each week (Ingrams – Monday; Middles – Tuesday; Seniors – Wednesday). Ingrams have an additional morning period of Games on Thursday (Second Form) or Friday (First Form).
The main sports for girls are hockey (autumn term), netball (spring), and tennis and cricket (summer).
Boys play football (autumn), hockey (spring), and cricket (summer). Some boys play tennis in the summer term.
Middles may opt for canoeing or sailing as an alternative to the main sports (if they are not required to represent the school in the sport of that term), although there are limited places and a termly charge applies.
For those not in representative sports teams, Seniors Games offers more than 20 activities over the school year including yoga, ice skating, swimming, basketball, golf, clay pigeon shooting and badminton.
Sports kit
With the exception of Sixth Formers who can delay the purchase of Games kit until their choice of sport is confirmed, all pupils need PE kit plus hockey (girls) or football (boys) kit at the start of the autumn term.
The purchase of some of the other kit can be delayed until needed, but please note that we change the sport we are teaching three weeks before the end of term so that we are ready to play competitive fixtures from the start of the next one. This means, for example, that boys need hockey sticks, mouth guards and astro boots by mid-November rather than the start of January.
In the summer term, some pupils are able to opt for tennis (boys) or rounders (girls). Pupils play summer Games in their Games kit. Tennis (Girls) and cricket whites (Boys only) are only required if your child is chosen to represent the School.
All standard school sports kit must be purchased from Schoolblazer Ltd. Some items of personalised senior sports kit is ordered and purchased through the PE/Games department. The school shop stocks some minor items such as football/ hockey socks, PE socks, water bottles and mouthguards.
Pupils are encouraged to place valuables in a locker.
Representative sport
We play sports matches against both local and more distant schools. Fixtures take place on Match Saturdays and during some midweek Games afternoons.
We encourage pupils to participate in sport in their own time but, in keeping with our sporting and community ethos, players in sports teams are expected to commit to represent the school in all fixtures, midweek and Saturdays.
Match timings
At the start of each term we publish a fixtures list for each sport in the termly calendar.
The start times of Saturday matches vary depending on the availability of the opposition and therefore can be on mornings or afternoons.
More detailed informa- tion, including transport information, teas and return times are published on SOCS.
Selection of teams
All our squads remain fluid, reflecting the progress of individual pupils as we move through each sporting season.
We consider pupil ability, confidence and safety when selecting for fixtures and representing the School during an earlier season does not necessarily lead to re-selection in the following sport or school year.
Team lists are published on SOCS; pupils are responsible for checking SOCS regularly and making note of the details.
Pupils are expected to attend post-match teas after a home Saturday fixture where refreshments for pupils are served.
Supporting fixtures
We welcome your support on the touchline at both midweek and Saturday matches, home and away, but cannot provide transport for families.
Information on pitch locations (for home matches) and the postcodes of opposition schools (for away matches) is available on the SOCS. We ask spectators to applaud good play from both teams, refrain from giving instructions to pupils and create a positive environment for all children to play.
We provide post-match refreshments for supporters of our home matches in the Dining Room; many other host schools provide similar refreshments.
Sport FAQs
What must my child wear on a Saturday when selected for a sports team?
The standard full Games kit for each sport must be worn. Most significantly, all pupils turn up for and depart from fixtures in a full school tracksuit (blazers for cricket teams).
What food is provided on a Saturday?
Pupils need their own lunch when travelling away for an afternoon fixture. Match teas for pupils and refreshments for parents and spectators are provided after each home fixture. Pupils are expected to stay to host their opponents during match teas.
Can my child use a school bus service to get to school on a Saturday morning?
No. We used to operate a skeletal bus service on Saturdays but found that it was unviable.
Pupils selected for a Saturday fixture are required to inform their team manager as to how they intend to travel. Pupils arriving earlier than necessary may wait quietly in the Library until the rest of their team arrives.
How does my child get to away fixtures?
Transport is provided from school to all away fixtures.
If a pupil wishes to travel independently due to geographical reasons, it is the responsibility of the pupil (including those who may travel together and share a lift) to inform the relevant team manager.
Where a pupil travels to a fixture on the coach and returns with the parent of another child, written consent must be given to the team manager, by the parent, stating they allow their child to travel back with the named parent. You may wish to write a letter covering this arrangement on a termly basis.
What if my child cannot attend a fixture?
A request for any time away from normal school duties should be addressed to the Headmaster for approval.
Notification must be given to team managers at the earliest possible convenience and preferably at least seven days prior to the fixture.
What if my child is unavailable at the last minute (e.g. ill)?
Please contact the School Reception directly if your child is unavailable at the very last minute (open from 0830 to 1215; messages can be left earlier on the answer phone).
The team manager should also be notified by email and, where possible, notification given to the team captain or a team-mate. All teams will take playing substitutes to cater for this issue.
What should I do if my child believes they have been overlooked for selection?
Encourage your child to seek feedback from the Games staff about areas that they need to improve upon and the best way of achieving this.
This may include attending after-school practices or one of our holiday sports camps, joining a local club or simply practising certain skills in their own time.
Squads and teams remain fluid throughout the season so there is every chance that they will be selected if they prove that they are of the correct standard.
