Girls sport at Emanuel School SW11

Skoolquandry · 2021-02-23T22:34:00+00:00

Hoping that some of you lovely people can advise on how good the girls sport is at Emanuel School? I’m struggling to find specific information on their website. My daughter is very sporty and I’m a little concerned that as a co-ed school they favour the boys. Thank you!

Stircrazyschoolmum · 23/02/2021 22:43

I don’t have a child at the school but lots of friends do. I’ve heard anecdotally that boys sport ‘seemed’ to get prioritised during lockdown but that said friends daughter is enjoying rowing and netball. Not much swimming presence given they have a pool.

Did you attend the offers holders event this eve?

Iamsodone · 23/02/2021 23:48

The girls will have football there from next year I believe. Their 4 competitive sports being cricket, hockey, netball and football, plus rowing from year 9. Then they have the development sports and the progress sports.
Does your daughter play cricket ? I know that they have girls playing cricket both in boys and girls teams for external fixtures (when allowed).
They have managed to run an incredible number of clubs during lockdown, including Saturday sports which many of the other independent schools stopped.

Original poster

Skoolquandry · 24/02/2021 07:27

Thanks for your replies.
She’s played a little cricket but is very much a beginner. But plays all the sports mentioned. It’s just I’d heard that the school very much prioritise the boys when it comes to using their on site pitches, and the girls have to go off site for hockey and football?

OP posts:

jeanne16 · 24/02/2021 07:39

The rowing for girls at Emanuel is certainly not secondary to the boys. In fact they are usually very successful.

Iamsodone · 24/02/2021 07:53

@skoolquandry did you join the Q&A last night ?
I cannot help with that. I didn't even know they had grounds off-site outside of rowing. where do they go offsite?
Football is still new to the school.

Bunnyteam · 24/02/2021 08:29

I am wondering the same OP.
Given they will have building works, I wonder how much will be done off site and will the girls have to go offsite more often than not? I have never known any one who did rowing in school, do you know if they use protective equipment? I am afraid with all these lock downs my child won’t be a great swimmer and am a bit worried about them rowing in open water..

alltheleaves · 24/02/2021 08:50

The off-site space is in Raynes Park and last night they were talking about developing that better as well. I didn't take in anything on prioritising space just that they want to get better use out of everything they have. In the plans they showed it looked like they are going to put in a better all weather hockey pitch, which would be for the girls, but I might have got confused. There was a lot to take in!
Girls' football is already a co-curricular sport, and they have two teams, but they're going to make it a core sport. My daughter was relieved about that because it's her favourite.

Bunnyteam · 24/02/2021 08:55

@alltheleaves They did not mention if they use coaches or tube for the off site sports in Raynes Park, although they said they ll take the tube to the Rowing club. Do you know if they ll be taken by coach there?

alltheleaves · 24/02/2021 09:17

I don't, sorry. I always assumed they did because the facility is off the A3 and not near Raynes Park station.

AnotherNewt · 24/02/2021 09:25

Yes, girls go offsite for hockey, because the field onsite is laid out for rugby, and there isn't space for both. Not sure if footballers also go offsite whilst it's marked up for rugby.

There is an AstroTurf which can be used for hockey or football, so squad training is often on-site.

They replaced rounders with cricket a couple of years ago, and are planning to add ultimate frisbee.

There's lots of sport delivered through clubs (rather than in games lessons) such as swimming and climbing (might be a list in the website?). It's one of the few schools where girls play Fives

The boathouse is outstanding - has an indoor tank. Ergos there and also in main sports centre.

AnotherNewt · 24/02/2021 09:28

It's minibus to Blagdens (the off-site sports pitches)

And walk-train-walk to the boathouse (train Clapham Junction to Barnes Bridge). Apart from taster sessions, they don't start rowing until year 9, so only 13+ make that journey.

Bunnyteam · 24/02/2021 11:12

Thank you @AnotherNewt! That’s very helpful. Do you know if they were vests to row in the river? I saw the pictures and not sure if it’s safe to row in the river?

Bunnyteam · 24/02/2021 11:12

*wear

alltheleaves · 24/02/2021 11:33

My own experience of rowing on the Thames (albeit nearly 30 years ago 😬!!!) was that it's really calm. I think the Emanuel boathouse is really close to where we rowed, which still doesn't have very much river traffic today. Although it's tidal, it's not fast flowing so even as beginners it was surprisingly easy to get out and row straight away. Wearing life vests would be very restrictive so I don't think they would have that. I would hope they have a minimum swimming ability requirement (50m badge?) before they're allowed out on the river. Anyone else know?

Bunnyteam · 24/02/2021 11:43

@alltheleaves I have never done rowing myself and it looks like to may be risky in a bad weather. I may be overthinking though. The problem is that my daughter is not getting much swimming this year and with all that’s happening I would not want her to swim in a pool over the next couple of years too.. so not much practicing swimming skills

mimbleandlittlemy · 24/02/2021 12:54

It is normally an insurance requirement that they can swim 50m so if she can't, she probably won't be allowed to do it.

Not usually allowed out if it is rough or in bad weather - and do you not think this school and all the others that do rowing do endless risk assessments on this, have done rowing for years and know what they are doing?

I honestly think you need to park that worry for a couple of years.

Bunnyteam · 24/02/2021 13:22

@mimbleandlittlemy
I am not familiar with this sport at all so that’s why I am asking really, I hope everyone is doing risk assessments but would love to to find out more, since it seems like it’s not a risk free sport and it’s in open waters. I agree I may be overthinking but would love to find out about the experiences of other parents from this school.

mimbleandlittlemy · 24/02/2021 13:34

If you go on the Emanuel website there is an email address for Hannah Blaikie, the Head of Rowing. Why don't you email her? I think she will be able to put your mind at rest, or at least answer questions about rowing and what is required.

Bunnyteam · 24/02/2021 13:53

@mimbleandlittlemy. Perhaps I will do that. Thanks for the tip:)

sanam2019 · 24/02/2021 20:03

So if girls' hockey is offsite in Raynes Park (is it at RP High School?), do they come back to school by bus or would they have to make their own way home from Raynes Park? DD's main sports are hockey, netball and swimming. If swimming is a side show and hockey runs in Raynes Park, it suddenly sounds less ideal.

g02021 · 24/02/2021 20:49

[quote Bunnyteam]@alltheleaves I have never done rowing myself and it looks like to may be risky in a bad weather. I may be overthinking though. The problem is that my daughter is not getting much swimming this year and with all that’s happening I would not want her to swim in a pool over the next couple of years too.. so not much practicing swimming skills[/quote]
Both my DC have done swimming as part of the PE curriculum at school this year so if Emanuel has a pool they probably do there as well. I don't think you would be able to say she can't go in the pool.
I have never seen any school rowers wear life jackets. If they can't swim 50m I can't imagine they will be able to do rowing. It isn't usually a compulsory sport at any school.

Iamsodone · 26/02/2021 07:37

On the swimming side of things, Emanuel have reduced the access to the outside club to increase the access of their pupils to the swimming pool so instead of renting it out from 4pm, I have heard it is now rented out after 6pm.
If anyone has more details, would they share here please ? Thanks

AnotherNewt · 26/02/2021 09:50

@sanam2019

So if girls' hockey is offsite in Raynes Park (is it at RP High School?), do they come back to school by bus or would they have to make their own way home from Raynes Park? DD's main sports are hockey, netball and swimming. If swimming is a side show and hockey runs in Raynes Park, it suddenly sounds less ideal.

It's on their own grounds at Blagdons (there's a map on the sports page of the school website)

Bus provided back to school

Pupils (and this is pretty much the same for every secondary with off site facilities and/or away fixtures) can with signed parental authorisation, make their way home from the other location, as this might be more convenient for some.

sanam2019 · 27/02/2021 09:38

@AnotherNewt thanks a lot, if they can return to school and make their way home from there it doesn't sound too bad. If anyone has insights into their swim squad and how often they compete, I'd be very interested. Hard to gauge this from the current websites as all fixtures etc have been on hold or greatly reduced this year.

theBeeeeeeeep · 27/02/2021 20:45

@sanam2019

So if girls' hockey is offsite in Raynes Park (is it at RP High School?), do they come back to school by bus or would they have to make their own way home from Raynes Park? DD's main sports are hockey, netball and swimming. If swimming is a side show and hockey runs in Raynes Park, it suddenly sounds less ideal.

The sports grounds are at Blagdons, Raynes Park which is just on the A3 near the 'Goals' centre and the big B and Q. They are bussed there and back from school unless you live locally and give permission for them to travel home or collect from there..... Same with weekend fixtures- they can meet at school or at Blagdons