Please define "sporty school"

[propatria]

People often post that (insert name of school) is a "sporty school" or even a "very sporty school" ,I wonder what posters really mean by this,certainly many of the schools people say this about seem no more sporty than literally hundreds of others,so what makes a "sporty school"?

A school where sport is taken VERY seriously, where money has been poured into facilities and coaching, big enough so that there's a large enough talent pool, pupils excel in lots of different sports so not just a 'rugby' school or 'rowing' or 'swimming' school, one which frequently wipes the floor with the opposition!

Of the schools I know about, Millfield and Whitgift both fit the bill, obviously it doesn't mean that other schools don't do well or take sport seriously but both those have taken it to another level

Where every child plays competitive matches and is expected to try hard and put in maximum effort.

Where the pupils are singled out and celebrated for success on the pitches.

Where sports commitments take priority over other stuff.

I agree with Basildon about her definition of a sporty school. A school like Millfield does have amazing sports facilities and excellent coaches etc
I have known a number of DC successfully go through Millfield who are not sporty. So do remember a large sporty school usually has a lot more to offer than just sport eg music, drama etc

The schools I know most about are Eton and Radley. Both have fantastic sports facilities. Both produce great teams.

I would say that Radley is a sporty school and that Eton is not. It's about ethos, I suppose. I think if you asked a Radleian to name the boys in the first XV he probably could. An Etonian probably couldn't. Sporty boys are more lionised at Radley.

Which is not to say that Radley doesn't produce good music or art.

I'd call this one a sporty school.

www.portregis.com/Sport/index.asp

I've seen them at gymnastics competitions, and the girls there are amazing - but then they do have specialist coaches, facilities, the girls usually represent their county / region etc, and can train up to 24 hours a week.

My DH went to a school where the Prefects were:
The 1st XV Rugby team
The 1st 11 Cricket team
One token academic

I'd say that was a sporty school!

I'd say it's the schools which regularly make the last 4 of national level competition, and which offer at least 20 sports.

One that has outside fixtures and has pupils playing at county level.

Well, going against the grain entirely here - I'd say it was a school which got a large % of it's children participating in sport outside of compulsory lessons. A FAR greater achievement than being able to say you've competed at National leve, IMVHO.

To produce a team which excels, then a high-level of participation is a given, IME. It's engrained throughout the school, and encompasses both the excellent performers and those who are the opposite. Having proper coaches for 20+ sports increases the opportunity both to excel, and also just to find the one you like and will continue to do just for fun, whether good or bad at it.

Schools can be sporty in different ways for example the same schools seem to participate and win or be in the top 3 every year in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup obviously the requirement of a nearby river is essential! Other schools excel and win in cricket X country running sailing (I believe Milton Abbey unsurprisingly produces good sailors) Riding (Milfield) etc. Most independent schools will offer 20+ sports as standard obviously good facilities help but most have good facilities and nearly all boarding school sport will be compulsory at least 4 days a week with further opportunities in the evening etc. Even at the schools known for not being very sporty there is likely to be the occasional county or even national player.

If it matters ask as I've said before it always amazes me when parents moan that their golf mad son cant play golf because the nearest golf course is 25 miles or way their rugby obsessed son is miserable when he finds that the school only offer hockey.

Yes I think Sporty schools are when they go beyond the norm.

DD's prep school has played matches against other schools every week from Yr 3 and girls can play hockey, netball, rounders, showjumping and X Country against other schools from an early age. However, although the Under 11 hockey team did get into the top 4 in the country I wouldn't say it was particularly sporty compared to sort of ones that offer lots more opportunities.

Agree with other comments. Particularly impressive are those schools that carve 2+ hours per day for sport but still come in top 50 academically (not many). Agree particularly about the lionising of first team members. An easy way to spot the sporty schools is to look at who is teaching the sports - in a sporty school it's not uncommon to see a bunch of capped players/Olympians coaching the kids.

Millfield has an extraordinary number of Olympians and other professional sportspeople as their alumni. It must be the sportiest school,in the Uk.