Spring Term Sports News

Kingsley School Spring Term Sports Pathway Review

We have had a successful term engaging our students in sports programs and improving their performance levels. Our pupils from all age groups have demonstrated immense potential and gained valuable experiences from a huge variety of events. Throughout the term, we participated in a total of 99 events and fixtures, ranging from team fixtures to individual competitions, involving pupils from year 2 to our sixth form pupils. Additionally, we launched our sports scholars’ leadership days and athlete-centred education programs, with our first workshop focusing on pre-Hab skill acquisition and our newest venture starting with strength and conditioning programs. Apart from the on-field successes, the highlight of the term has been the tremendous achievements of our non-competitive well-being sports groups during PE. These pupils have shown great engagement and enjoyment in participating in our sports program, and we are thrilled to see their progress as they now start to move into our competitive groups.

During our Inter House events, our teams are competing fiercely to become champions. In the football competition, Saunton emerged victorious, while Woolacombe won the golden pancake race. Putsborough were crowned the Netball champions. As we head into the summer term, the competition is intense, with only one point separating Saunton, who finished in first place with 109 points, and Woolacombe, who finished in second place with 108 points.

For the first time ever, we have qualified to compete in four different sports at the National Schools Finals.

For the first time ever, we have qualified to compete in four different sports at the National Schools Finals. Our ISA Cross Country team participated in Worksop, while our U11 Football Team took part in the St. George's Park finals. In addition, our gymnasts and judokas competed in their National Governing Body sports nationals, and our U14 Rugby team participated in the Rugby 7's tournament at Rosslyn Park.

Our netball teams have been very busy this term, competing in a total of 34 matches. They have participated in Bee Netball tournaments in the North Devon primary schools league to the Southwest ISA Tournament in Teignmouth. Our girls have demonstrated great effort and resilience throughout the term, producing some incredible performances along the way. All their hard work has set them up for a fantastic Netball Tour in May.

Our talented Cross-Country runners have had an exceptional season, In the National ISA Finals, Finley Cloak, earned a remarkable third place bronze medal, showcasing his impressive skills and determination. Additionally, our U9 boys team displayed incredible teamwork and stamina in the Bremco Schools Cross Country League, earning a well-deserved bronze medal after competing in six gruelling rounds. It is with great pleasure that we announce that Kingsley School will host the league races next year.

Our Rugby teams have been reinvigorated this term and for the first time ever in the school’s history won the North Devon 7’s tournament at West Buckland to reach the County Finals and are on the brink of reaching the final of the North Devon Schools u15 Finals after winning 4 out of four games in the round robin league to set up a semi final with Braunton this week where we hope to qualify for our second final of the year.

Our netball teams have been very busy this term, competing in a total of 34 matches.

Our SEND pupils have also enjoyed success in sport within Football, Judo and Tennis taking part in festivals design to engage and inspire participation within sport and challenge their skills and enjoyment in sport.

Our Judo squad have won the first season of the Peninsula Independent Schools league winning all three rounds against Mount Kelly and Truro School in March as well as winning at the regional schools’ championships and enjoying their first tour weekend away at the Liverpool Open.

Our football teams have been active this term. Our girl's squads have played 7 fixtures so far and have scored 23 goals in total. Our boy's squads have played 13 matches and have scored 44 goals altogether. The U11 prep school team's achievement was a highlight as they qualified for the ISA National 5-a-side tournament at St. George's Park in March, which is the famous home ground of the England football team.

Our gymnastics teams have been incredibly successful this term. We have qualified for the National Milano Finals and the English Schools National Finals. In addition to this, we have won medals in almost every age group at the recent North Devon and Southwest Schools Championships held at Kingsley. Moreover, one of our Year 6 pupils, Jessie, made her debut at the British National Championships and finished an incredible 9th place overall.

Our football teams have been active this term.

As we look back at the success, we should also feel amazingly proud of our future generation pupils coming through the prep school with our U11 pupils who won the Indoor Sports Hall athletics championships and represented the Bideford learning community schools at the recent Finals where they finished in 7th place overall, a great demonstration of talent coming through the prep school with so much potential on display.

We have recently equipped our new strength and conditioning gym with all the necessary equipment. Our academy and GCSE sport science pupils, as well as general PE lessons group, are fully appreciating this additional opportunity. Additionally, we have received a brand-new state-of-the-art rugby scrum machine from Aramis Rugby. This machine will be an excellent training addition for our rugby teams moving forward.

It's been great to see our pupils excel in various sports beyond our traditional school sports. Keeva, Ella, and Freya have achieved success at the national level in volleyball and beach volleyball Mia and Ella Gibbs, along with our Equestrian team, have competed in local and national NSEA Circuit. Theo is making progress in the Para swimming pathway and has participated in the World Para Series this term, while our strong swimming teams have secured personal bests in regional and county level events while representing their respective clubs. Bodie, Logan, and Toby in the Prep School have won racing championships in BMX, Karting, and Motor Cross, and are always looking for new opportunities to compete.

I must admit that I may have missed some of the impressive accomplishments of our students this term. Nevertheless, we are all incredibly proud of our pupil's commitment and enthusiasm in setting goals and persevering through obstacles to achieve them. The journey may be long and challenging, but the feeling of accomplishment at the end is always worth it. So, keep pushing yourself and savour every step of the way despite the many setbacks along the way. Just remember to keep challenging yourself and enjoy the journey.