Sports training - only for A team?

[RowNine]

I'm little disappointed at the level of training offered to children at my DD's school and wondered if it is the norm at other schools?

Only the children in the A team are invited to after school sports and often these are those who have played for the school team since prep. This means there is little movement between the teams or opportunity for the lower children in the lower teams to improve. For context there are 6 teams in each year (it's a large school).

I am wrong to feel a little cross given we all pay the same fees? I'm not expecting my DD to be elevated into the top team just given the opportunity to get improve.

Yes, sounds shit to me - not least because if it's only A team players then you won't have enough people for match play (though I suppose driils and other training is good in itself)

Schools I know tend to have both an invitation club (at least the A&B teams, and possibly C as well, so there is scope for match play even if some can't get to every session), plus an open session that anyone can join.

Depending on the sport, obviously. They might not run clubs at all for minor sports.

And I'm not sure the "but we all pay the same fees" argument will wash - after all, not every pupil will be in any/every musical ensemble, or drama production (auditions are common to manage numbers)

But you're right about the idea that there should be plenty of clubs across a whole range of activities, so that everyone can be doing something, even if not everyone can do everything

Totally get that there should be invitation only training. Just a bit sad that aren't any after school sports clubs DD can take part in (for info I was referencing hockey in my post, not a fringe sport).

To be fair the entire extra curricular offering is lacking at the school. Wasn't what I was expecting given the fees.

At my son’s school there is one’s games afternoon and one optional afterschool club in hockey and rugby for everyone. Saturday mornings are the teams but mostly games.

I don’t know what the vibe is on the after school day as DS isn’t interested at this point.

It’s standard

mostly the A teams are children of all the staff at the school. The teachers friends kids and the likes. The whole system is corrupt. It’s called a conflict of interest parents at our school gathered evidence and protested to the Governors.

Staff at independent schools are all friends do favours for eachother and low level complaints are buried amongst them.

https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

Not really our experience but then our School is keen to hold onto its pupils so any hint of parent complain and they’d probably bend over backwards to try and accommodate

Sounds like yours has the numbers not to be too concerned?

In this instance, I’d vote with my feet - Life is too short and fees are too high!

📌 Parents Vs Independent

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/parenting/5551437-independent-schools-in-2026-are-full-fees-still-worth-paying?reply=153382614

Yeah, all those staff children making the most of the education paid for by you rich folk and not knowing their place. If it isn’t sport, it’s places in the top set or the prize for Greek. Bloody staff children.

I’m guessing your child didn’t get the best part in the school play! Just put them in a state school already (although I’m sure you’ll find the children of the PTA are give lots and lots and lots of unfair advantages too 😂).

Definitely not how it is done at the school my child attends. That approach would have really put me off. Sure the A team will get more matches, maybe an extra session here and there. But general training is open to all and they make sure everyone who wants to play, can do. Music is similar, everyone who wants to get involved can and there is extra for those who want to audition. It’s a big school though so they can do that. As you say, you pay the same fees and such an exclusive approach would not go down well with the parents here!

You don’t pay the same fees.

They get 50% discounts, no VAT and cream all the opportunities.

They know this intel. You don’t.

📌

https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

They try to hide these figure “staff discounts” in with the “charitable” bursary figures.

For ‘cream all the opportunities’ read ‘have beaten her children fair and square to get a main part in the school play/head prefect/place in the first team’.

in answer to the OP’s question, it is not usual at the school in which I teach. All training opportunities are open to children of all abilities. I am not a sports teacher but I have seen many children benefit from this over the years. I would bring it up with your school.

There is not only one complaint and your opinion is noted and valid,

Entire year groups, evidenced have written formal complaints.

I would encourage any parent to make note of the children of staff in your school.

Make note of sporting accomplishments do they out perform the best athletes? Can they independently win when measured, a race? An event? Or are they mediocre compared to all of the athletes who out class them yet they’re still sitting on that A team bus.

I encourage all families to look at which kids are selected for every “fixture” “event” “opportunity” which is exactly what we’re supposed to be paying for.

Examine the conflict of interest amongst staff, staff kids.

The best authority are all of the other children who are actively at even the youngest of age making formal, evidenced complaints.

Financially and ethically “staff” at independent schools represent a conflict of interest the moment their own kids attend their place of work. As they’re all in the same position they like to scratch each others backs.

All opinions welcome.

Look to your school and look at the opportunities fixtures, places, teams that the “staff kids” monopolise.

📌

At my sons school depending on the sport there is a A-D team and all teams are switched around each week and all teams play a fixture each week to give them the opportunity to participate at a competitive level. After school clubs for sports are available for all to join should you wish. There are a couple of clubs which are invite only for the more elite. They also run a tennis and golf academy to the wider community too!

All families.

Dear governors,

I believe there is a serious conflict of interest within Independent schools.

1. I seek transparency on discounts besides bursary’s for disadvantaged students.
2. As (OP) I’d like to question provision and allocation with all fixtures, opportunities, events to ensure there is no conflict of interest and that my child is not missing out on that which I’m paying for (in full) as my investment in my child.

These non means tested expenses are crippling the quality provision and I’m questioning the value for money. How do you intend to improve things and mitigate conflict of interest RE: Staff?

If it’s not true, it’s not true. If it is true………

When all the middle class kids from homes paying Full Fees start turning round and speaking the truth.

“You can’t beat me. You’re just being carried because your parent/ friend of parent is staff”.

Those kids missing out on holidays or birthdays getting used to “no” takeaways or treats to subsidise this! “Independent school” black holes.

“I’m paying half your fee”

When at school yard level the kids start to break with the weight of the resentment and injustice I cannot wait to go into school meetings and explain!

The children are but speaking the truth.

Honestly, it isn’t a thing. I have no skin in the game and you really are seeing things which don’t happen. If anything, staff children lose out as their parents bend over backwards to stop accusations of favouritism. Why would any competitive school want to put staff children in A teams or chose them as head prefects if they don’t play well or lack suitable character? They would be shown up in fixtures and poorly represented.

What particular event at your school has upset you?

Families need to be aware between the non means tested discounts the additional “support funds” removing staff VAT and the internal corruption.

Full fee paying families questioning are well within their right to do so. Staff in some schools are paying half, subsidised and taking all the opportunities. It’s up to families to monitor the conflict of interest.

Before VAT it was easier to hide now families are questioning and seeking transparency.

What was the outcome of the complaint to the governors?

What on earth?? My dc are going to private school and there will absolutely be training for every team for every sport.

What have I just read? I’ve worked in a number of fee paying schools (couldn’t afford to send my own dcs though even with a discount) and this isn’t a thing! Any dc that says ‘I’m paying half your fees’ is a vile little bully and a snob, with a poor grasp of how payments work. He obviously isn’t paying half of anyone else’s fees.
If anything staff children are disadvantaged because people are so mindful of the potential for people (like you) to make accusations like yours. I don’t know any school that puts weaker kids on the A team - they want to win! Of course if staff kids are deserving of the place they should get it, and not be subjected to nasty, jealous comments. Staff kids often do work hard and are often academically able because they have highly educated parents who value education- they are often an asset to school and their parents make loyal, fully committed staff.

I’ve seen this. A team gets some sort of semi pro or pro coaching and others often get a reluctant maths teacher who hasn’t played the sport. Awful two tier system. Sibling works in a private school and has been forced to “coach” sport with no experience.

So they dress them up like Olympic athletes but all that really happens is crowd control by (worse than) an amateur. Outside the A team obvs.

@RowNine it’s not the norm at our school (Y7-13). Everyone is invited to training and there is often movement between the A and B teams (we are small enough that there are rarely enough children for a C team). Sometimes children are picked for a one-off specialised training session, but this doesn’t happen very often and I know a parent could request their child joins if they want to.

@SchoolRunDays ive noticed you've posted a lot about the same issues, what was the outcome from your complaint? We have very similar in our school, teacher's children get the prizes or the sports games, but we are just used to it now. We wouldn't flag it in case it backfired though other parents have. As its independent, we are looking elsewhere.