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Secondary education

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Original poster

Secondary school without Rugby

162 replies

westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 19:04

Happy new year! We are looking for a high level academic and sporty secondary school WITHOUT Rugby. Our two DS are currently in a prep school where rugby is dominating their lives, which was ok until they probably both got mild concussion following a knock on the head. We have been worried about them since they started contact rugby 3 years ago, now we have seen the consequences first hand, which could potentially be desastrous. We are ready to put a stop to Rugby, although they both live and breathe for the sport, which makes it very difficult. We live in Buckinghamshire but would be ready to move within the county or closer to London, should we find a school which offers other sports as well as having a high academic level. Many thanks in advance.

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Original poster
westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 19:07

Happy new year! We are looking for a high level academic and sporty secondary school WITHOUT Rugby. Our two DS are currently in a prep school where rugby is dominating their lives, which was ok until they probably both got mild concussion following a knock on the head. We have been worried about them since they started contact rugby 3 years ago, now we have seen the consequences first hand, which could potentially be desastrous. We are ready to put a stop to Rugby, although they both live and breathe for the sport, which makes it very difficult. We live in Buckinghamshire but would be ready to move within the county or closer to London, should we find a school which offers other sports as well as having a high academic level. Many thanks in advance.

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happygardening · 01/01/2018 19:18

Many secondary schools offer at least one major sporting alternative to rugby as increasingly parents are taking your stance best thing is read their websites and talk to the admissions dept.

Charterhouse doesn’t do any rugby neither does Win Coll both are academic both Pre test in yr 6 and probably require registration in yr 5, at least Win Coll does I don’t know enough about Charterhouse.
Where has your head advised you to consider?

Sunshine5050 · 01/01/2018 19:27

Kingston Grammar doesn't play rugby - has very good hockey.

SimultaneousEquation · 01/01/2018 19:29

Eton lets you choose between rugby and football. I believe that at Winchester it’s also not compulsory.

happygardening · 01/01/2018 19:33

There is no rugby at Winchester.

Regularsizedrudy · 01/01/2018 19:38

My comprehensive school never did rugby, maybe send them to one of those 😂

Scabbersley · 01/01/2018 19:40

Yes I was going to say my dds comp doesn't do it Grin

Scabbersley · 01/01/2018 19:40

What sport are you looking for?

SignoraStronza · 01/01/2018 20:22

DD's comp doesn't do contact rugby either, so she plays at the local rugby club, which has an excellent track record and safety ethos. How do your sons feel about being made to give up playing a sport they love?

LIZS · 01/01/2018 20:24

Ds moved at 13+ /y9 and could opt out of rugby. Ask schools if they offer a choice later on, even if it is apparently compulsory.

Original poster
westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 21:05

Thank you Happygardening I will look into these schools. The current school hasn’t proposed anything that we feel would correspond our boys academic level yet. Or when it does, there is compulsory Rugby or as an option and we would like to avoid putting our boys into a situation where Rugby is available but they can’t play as it is so important in their lives right now. We feel it would be easier if it simply disappears in their new school and all their friends are involved in other sports. Did anyone go through the same process? It would be very helpful to know the best way to put this into place. Many thanks in advance

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Original poster
westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 21:07

Thanks Sunshine 5050, although we would prefer a private school, I will look into Kingston Grammar.

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Original poster
westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 21:09

Thank you SimultaneousEquation. I will check Winchester- Eton probably not for us since we would rather a day school.

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greendale17 · 01/01/2018 21:11

Hockey is becoming popular again

Original poster
westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 21:13

Hi Scabbersley, as long as it’s a team sport, pretty much anything would do. We looked into rowing and basketball and they seem to like it. Also I contacted the touch rugby league to see if they knew if there were schools which were proposing touch Rugby instead of Contact Rugby but I haven’t heard back yet. Thank you

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Ontopofthesunset · 01/01/2018 21:15

I think Hampton also offers the choice of football or rugby.

toobusytothink · 01/01/2018 21:17

Bradfield doesnt do Rugby at all! Heard great things about it. DS loves rugby and it’s the only reason we aren’t considering it for him. Abingdon also gives them a choice - I know you said you dont even want it as an option but plenty there don’t play - might be good option for an academic day school.

WalkingWolly · 01/01/2018 21:17

FFIW I agree with you.

There is a boat load of research coming out regarding concussion in young people and ongoing effects in later life. We have stopped DS and DD from the martial arts they were previously doing for something with no head contact.

Original poster
westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 21:21

Hi SignoraStronza, we haven’t told our sons we wanted them to stop because we know it would break their hearts. But we know it could also damage their brains so we feel we have no options but trying to find other options for them and we think that in a school without Rugby and with peers involved in other sports it would be less of a shock for them. We don’t really know to be honest, we just know it’s becoming more and more brutal and keeping Rugby into their lives might have tragic consequences for them and we feel it’s not worth it.

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Original poster
westwood2016 · 01/01/2018 21:22

Thank you for your reply

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sendsummer · 01/01/2018 21:58

IME it is very likely that they will choose to do rugby as their sport at secondary school if it is an option as they both like and are good at it. With that in mind that leaves you with the choice of telling them why you do not want them to continue or persuading them that a school without it has benefits that outweigh their favourite sport. Best of luck with that.

happygardening · 01/01/2018 22:16

Winchester is like Eton is full boarding only.

happygardening · 01/01/2018 22:29

The jury is out on the level of risk of brain damage frankly. The chances are very small if you play at school level (I was involved in looking at the risk in a previous job) it’s very carefully monitored must schools will follow the pretty strict guildlines laid down England rugby. The risk if # of limbs in particular clavicles or shoulder dislocation is I think higher. I ride horses a the chance of significant minor HI is fairly high even if you wear at hat (which I do) but I love it so I accept there’s a risk.
We know lots of children and adults somehow had pretty significant skiing injuries, if you ski will you stop?
We cannot make life risk free for ourselves or children.
You say your current school hasn’t proposed anything that corresponds with your boys “current academic level”. This is unusual most preos want there pupils to get into the very top academic schools as it reflects well on them so will. Wet much encourage parents with suitable children to consider them.

numbereightyone · 01/01/2018 22:33

Is the jury out? I thought there was some pretty compelling evidence that rugby (wherever it is played) presents a risk of CTE?

happygardening · 01/01/2018 22:47

There is some evidence but the doctors I was involved with, who had no axe to grind either way apart from the appointment time taken up seeing those with significant minor head injuries, didn’t feel it’s currently “compelling” enough that they recommended to schools that children should be stopped from playing rugby.