Sporting Life

We pride ourselves on the sporting and physical activity opportunities available to our pupils. Those who hope to apply their skills on the competitive Games field, enjoy the challenge of water-based activities or who simply wish to engage in physical activity can do so in a safe and supportive environment. Our goal is to create environments and experiences whereby all pupils, regardless of ability, leave Kimbolton with the motivation, competence and confidence to engage in physical activity for life.

Facilities

At the Prep School we have a modernised gymnasium, tennis courts, cricket nets, cricket pavilion and changing facilities. We have a modern sports centre at the Senior School containing a large multi-purpose sports hall, a gymnasium, a fitness room, two squash courts, indoor and outdoor changing facilities.  

Both the Prep and Senior Schools use our 25m swimming pool, three astroturf pitches (two full pitches and one training pitch; one match pitch is fully floodlit), extensive playing fields, six outdoor cricket nets and three hard court netball and tennis areas.

Curriculum Sport (Games)

Sport is taught through Games lessons. Games lessons take place most afternoons, with each year group from Year 1 onwards participating in either one or two sessions per week. Whilst football, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis are termed the major Games at Kimbolton, we also offer a broad range of physical activities for pupils to pursue. These include: athletics, badminton, canoeing, girls' cricket, girls' football, fitness, gymnastics, pilates, sailing, shooting, strength & conditioning, squash, table tennis, swimming, water polo and horse-riding.  These activities are offered to pupils in various age groups during Games sessions or within the extra-curricular programme.

One of the strengths of Sport at Kimbolton is the number of pupils who have the opportunity to represent the school. We regularly field a large number of teams across a variety of sports against other schools. These fixtures occur during both Games afternoons and on a weekend. As well as the regular fixtures and practice schedules we compete in district, county, regional and national tournaments across a number of Sports. Our aim is to provide as many pupils as possible, the best possible environment to play Sport for the duration of their time at Kimbolton.

Staff

Our Games programme is supported by experienced Physical Education staff, professional Games coaches and academic members of staff. Our Football professional is Chris Hope who played over 600 league for Scunthorpe, Gillingham, and Rushden & Diamonds. As a Top 100 School for Cricket, Kimbolton benefits from a team of experienced coaches led by former England Test & ODI international Alex Tudor.

Extra-curricular Opportunities

We provide additional training and practice sessions throughout the year depending on the Games/sport focus for each term. These sessions are open for all pupils to attend, and each year group has a specific training evening throughout the year.

Sports Tours

We often provide opportunities for our pupils to experience different sporting cultures through International Sports tours. These include local sports festivals, tournaments and residential ventures.  Our foreign sports trips, such as our Pacific Coast Tour, Barcelona Tour, Lowlands Tour and South Africa Tour, have proved highly popular.

Outdoor Pursuits

Our Outdoor Pursuits Department offers pupils from First Form upwards the opportunity to sail, canoe, climb, windsurf and powerboat either during Games lessons or after school. Kimbolton School is an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Recognised Training Centre and is also affiliated to British Canoeing. With highly qualified, dedicated staff, we strive to uphold the highest standards, and are proud to have such an extensive programme and a wealth of equipment to cater for all interests and ability level.

Canoeing/Kayaking

Canoeing is available as a Games option from the Third Form upwards. After-school canoeing is available for the First and Second Forms. Our Senior canoe team (5th-U6th Form) competes regularly in marathon races, notably the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race (DW) – ‘the canoeist’s Everest’.

Starting in Devizes, Wiltshire, and finishing downstream of Westminster Bridge in London, the race is 125 miles long and passes 77 locks around which competitors must carry their boats. Training takes place on local rivers and canals from September to February; this is followed by the Waterside Series of races and finally DW, which takes place over Easter weekend. We have a strong record of success in the race.

Sailing

We have a large, modern fleet of sailing dinghies based at nearby Grafham Water Sailing Club. These include Picos, Lasers, Fireflies and 2000s, as well as exhilarating Dart 16 catamarans and the ultimate test of ability – the 29er! From the Third Form, pupils can opt to sail during their Games lesson; no experience is necessary as the staff and more experienced sailors will show beginners (quite literally!) the ropes.

Team sailors train at weekends and take part in wide variety of races, from club racing at Grafham Water and matches against other schools, to regional and national competitions organised by the British Schools Dinghy Racing Association and National School Sailing Association. To join the sailing team, pupils should be able to competently sail around a triangle course (e.g. RYA Stage 3 / Level 2 ability). Our holiday sailing trips are popular, most recently to Portland, Dorset.

Physical Education

Core curriculum Physical Education differs from Games. Physical Education is "education through the physical". It aims to develop pupils’ physical competence and knowledge of movement and safety, and their ability to use these to perform in a wide range of activities associated with the development of an active and healthy lifestyle. It also develops their confidence and generic skills, especially those of collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and aesthetic appreciation. These, together with the nurturing of positive values and attitudes in PE, provide a good foundation for pupils’ lifelong and life-wide learning. The subject is taught by qualified Physical Education teachers.