Sport at The Leys Overview
Director of Sport, Liam Copley
Sport is a crucial element of the educational experience we offer at The Leys. The variety, depth and quality of our provision are essential components in generating an atmosphere in which boys and girls can both develop and enjoy their sport, while also creating an awareness of the relationship between constructive exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Students of all ability are encouraged to play meaningful and competitive sport, at either house, school or representative level.
The Leys identifies four key benefits of sport in education:
- Working with others in a team towards an external, collective objective.
- The challenge of competition and of mastering physical skills.
- The self-evident benefits of physical exercise.
- The concept of fair play, and the ability to cope with both success and failure.
The Leys is known for its excellence in major sports and has produced a number of county and international competitors over the years. This process is now enhanced by our 'Elite Performance Programme' for those who are selected to become part of The Leys Academy. However, we are as proud of the depth of our provision as we are of the high quality of our top sports players, and we aim to cater for the less able as we do for the A team player. We recognise that different students have different strengths and interests, and we try to offer as wide a choice of sports as possible in the hope that each person will find something to enthuse them. We recognise and welcome competition within sport. Competition encourages team awareness and, when guided appropriately, teaches the importance of winning without arrogance and losing with good grace. All sports offer competitive fixtures at both school and house level, and much emphasis is placed on the way students conduct themselves on and off the pitch. It is important that all those who run and/or support The Leys Sport and all students who play it are aware of the need for the highest standards of sportsmanship at all levels.
All students who opt to play a particular sport have access to excellent facilities and the opportunity to benefit from coaching. Every team group has its own dedicated coach and the opportunity to participate in competitive sport, whatever their ability. We run teams at depth in all age groups and also run competitive House competitions in most sports. We are privileged with outstanding sporting facilities, both at the School and Latham Road, with a fully committed grounds staff working to ensure the highest standards are maintained at all levels.
The students' involvement in sport can occur in three main areas:
Major games:
The major games are cricket, hockey and rugby for boys and hockey, netball, rounders and tennis for girls, with swimming and rowing available for both boys and girls. Pupils not involved in these games follow an options programme at least two afternoons each week, which includes badminton, cross country, dance, fitness, football, karate, sailing, squash and weight training. Where possible we encourage our better athletes to link up with local clubs and academies - some examples are Northampton Rugby Club Academy, Essex County Cricket Club, Cambridgeshire Hockey Academy and Cambridge Swimming Club. We also provide an Elite Performance Programme for top athletes, supported by a Personal Trainer who gives fitness advice and helps set individual performance goals.
Physical Education programme:
The PE programme in curriculum time covers minor sports, athletics, gymnastics, health, fitness and academic PE. Pupils up to year 11 have one or two hours of PE each week, while PE can be studied at GCSE and A level.
Extra-curricular sport:
A wide range of extra-curricular sporting options are available after school and at weekends. These involve competitive match training and recreational sport, with the emphasis on fun. Other activities include outdoor and adventure activities run through the CCF and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, with mountain expeditions, canoeing, sailing and climbing. A high proportion of pupils are involved with teams in many sports including badminton, fencing, football, volleyball and water polo.