Sport Scholarship for National Champion

[Sula1978]

I'd love some advice please. My son is a National Champion at his sport. He was approached at the British Championships by several schools offering him boarding sports scholarships (although we are not sure of the financial side of it yet). We are not in a position to pay for this opportunity but would like to look and see what's offered as he is keen. We are therefore seeking advice for his tours of the schools in the new year. Has anybody out there been in this position?

Well done your boy - you must be very proud!

Just one piece of advice here - make sure that any school that you choose commits to meeting your child's academic needs as well as their sporting ones.

A friend's DS was scouted for a sixth form sports scholarship at a big name public school. When he turned up on the first day and got his timetable, it turned out that he was only going to be studying BTEC sport, and spending the rest of his time (almost all of his time, in fact) training for the first team. This might be perfect for some kids but it wasn't for this one - he loved his sport but was very academic too. His Dad hit the roof and insisted that his DS be transferred to A Levels otherwise he would remove him from the school. School reluctantly agreed and the boy went on to get all As and A stars and off to a highly selective university.

So, I guess, just make sure that you have clear conversations about the academic offer, and don't let schools just focus on your DS's sporting needs.

Take care. Is the sport one that can be done at the school? Will your child have good enough opposition there to enable improvement? Are the coaches there a good enough standard? Do you trust the school to understand their personality well enough to be able to help them get the balance right between school work and the sport?

What is the school’s motivation in wanting your child and is that in your child’s best interests?

What obligations will they have to the school? (If Park Oak is playing in the finals of the local cup on the same day as the Team GB U16 trials then will they expect your child to prioritise the local cup?)

Sorry - should have said - my dd is the National Champion at her sport at U14 level. We have had various approaches / offers from teams / coaches. Not from schools but it isn’t a team sport. We have always been very cautious as we know that we have DD’s best interest at heart but we don’t know that for other people. We are lucky though that we have the finances to support her ourselves so we can do that.

I should also say that very few people at DD’s school know about her sport. She is naturally very private / shy and she keeps it very quiet. Her Head of Year knows but no other teachers. One or two friends know. She really appreciates being able to go to school and be “Susie in 10G who is good at Science and has nice hair” rather than “Hey - that’s Susie Smith - the National Champion” which she is when she does her sport.

Thank you. That's good advice. He has been predicted A's on this week's school report so the academic side of it will be part of our conversation with them.