College sports news

Director of Sport Mike Harrison writes:

It is remarkable how much we fit into each half term and this one has been no exception. 120+ fixtures in ten sports we have competed in so far, plus the Aquathlon, Steeplechase and other house sports as the journey to the end of year house cup begins! We have had 450+ pupils having already played competitive sport in either block, friendly or cup fixtures is incredible.

While I know I am biased, I do think we have something very special with our sport at the College. I always hope the pupils can appreciate and realise what an amazing opportunity it is to play competitive sport regularly. Ideally, we would love to see every single pupil having competed in one of our 20 sports against other schools during an academic year.

The platform of sport at the College enables pupils to achieve at the very highest level, aspire to play at ever higher levels and enables participation for all. The breadth is extraordinary and the lengths of time and effort to which staff go to, often unseen, provide the sporting opportunities which are nothing short of outstanding. 

I am always hugely grateful to all the directors and heads of sports and all staff along with pupils enthusiasm and engagement. For a variety of reasons, I am always constantly starry-eyed and extremely proud of what we achieve and how we are always striving to improve the experience.

This does not always mean winning every cup or fixture (although we do try!) but being involved in competitive sport and the feeling we hope to imbue in all pupils of how sport can play a vital part in their life and to benefit other areas. We hope they will carry this way beyond the College too.

It goes without saying how incredibly honoured and proud we felt to win the Talk Education: Inspiring Sporting Activities award in September. We were on a list with some other very prestigious sporting schools and I feel, in our understated Eastbourne way, we deserved it!

My thanks to all for a superb first half of term. I hope a restful half term has been enjoyed and we look forward to the second half!

Here you can read a full report of sporting activities in the first half of the Michaelmas term.