Boarding schools and sport

[BadgerB]

Has anyone found a school (apart from Winchester) where team sports are not compulsory for those with no talent for and a dislike of them? I realise DC need exercise, and most 6th forms offer a wide choice. What I am looking for is somewhere DS can do, f'instance, cross-country, archery, judo etc instead of rugby or soccer from the age of 13.

I'm only speculating but perhaps at a school like Milfield where sport is so integral your DS might be allowed to opt out of team sports and chose his own interests especially if your DS is very able.

Kent College Canterbury (not the Penbury one) claims it offers an individual curriculum accommodating a child's particular sporting interests. We know three or four there one is really sporty (admittedly all team sports) they seem happy. But I would very carefully check on the actual number of boarders especially full boaders if thats what your looking for all we know are day children and despite its claims on its website I think most are day children.

DS1 moved to Brighton College after being unhappy with being forced to do Rugby at our first choice of School. They were really accomodating, in fact he was massively unsporty and did swimming every PE lesson until sixth form when he switched to squash. So much so that the location of the main sports ground (a little away from the school) was a revelation to him when we went to collect the much sportier ds2 from there one day :)
you just need to make your wishes very clear and the housemaster will sort something out.
They are a brilliant school in every way, am onto third child there now and honestly have had no issues whatsoever.

HG - thanks. I'd rather dismissed Millfield because of its sporty reputation but I'll look again. Canterbury is a bit out of the way for us, not so much distance but having to go thru' London is a nightmare I'd rather be without

Thanks miggy. I'll look at Brighton too. DS says he'd like a school where he can 'do a lot of maths' Is he really a child of mine or was he switched at birth...?

Have to say you can do a lot of maths at Winchester and no team sports after the second term. X country is strong lots of archery competitions according to the diary thing and someone told me judo is strong don't know if this is true. The only problem is that many activates take place of Tues Thurs and Sat so as my DS has discovered that it may not be possible to seriously pursue more than one sport although X country is I appreciate different.

Bradfield do hockey instead of rugby as the main boys' sport apparently so maybe they're a bit more flexible/gentle in general.

Bede's near Hailsham in East Sussex. The only rule is (or was up till recently & I hope not changed), that a pupil must pick one sport activity a week out of the numerous choices on offer. Activities range from Bee keeping to Latin revision to Go-kart building to 1st team rugby. DS adored the activities & took part in squash, fencing, horse riding, swimming, weight training, table tennis, golf, badminton & tennis during his three years there. I'm sure I've missed a few out but it shows the depth of non team sports a pupil could participate in. The only time he took part in team sports was for house competitions!

Mutteroo - That sounds just the thing! Thanks