Sport at Kimbolton
Competitive Fixtures & RESULTS
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 leave Kimbolton with the motivation, competence and confidence to engage in physical activity for life.
Curriculum Sports (Games)
Sport is taught through Games lessons. Games lessons take place most afternoons, with each year group from Year 1 at the Prep School onwards participating in either one or two sessions per week. Whilst football, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis are our major sports, we also offer a broad range of physical activities for pupils to pursue. These include: athletics, badminton, canoeing, girls' cricket, girls' football, fitness, golf, gymnastics, Pilates, sailing, shooting, strength & conditioning, squash, table tennis, swimming, yoga, 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.
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.
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.
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. More about PE at Kimbolton
Major Sports (Games)
Cricket
As a Top 100 School for Cricket, Kimbolton benefits from a team of experienced coaches led by former England Test & ODI international Alex Tudor. With five well-maintained pitches, indoor and outdoor nets, as well as a new Merlyn spin bowling machine, there are plenty of opportunities for pupils of all ages and abilities to hone their batting, bowling and fielding skills.
Football
Pupils practise and develop their technical and tactical football moves with expert coaches, including former professional player Chris Hope, who played over 600 league matches for Scunthorpe, Gillingham, and Rushden & Diamonds. We emphasis respect and fair play, workin on your speed, agility, strength and hand-eye coordination.
Hockey
Sharpen your stick-work and develop your dribbling with practice sessions designed to improve your hockey skills, knowledge and performance.
We benefit from two top-quality AstroTurf pitches and coaches who are passionate about the game.
Netball
A typical session will include drills to help improve passing, catching, footwork, dodging, pivoting and forward movement.
If you’re keen to learn and improve, these sessions will help you to get play with confidence on our indoor and outdoor courts.
Tennis
Play for fun or take advantage of our professional coaching to participate in fixtures against other schools and clubs.
Develop an understanding of basic shots, learn different tennis movements and improve your balance and coordination. More than 20 courts available across our campus.
Other Sports
Athletics and Cross-country
We actively support pupils wishing to participate and represent our School in athletics and cross-country competitions.
Pupils frequently compete in inter-schools track and field events at both regional and national level.
Clay Pigeon Shooting
Kimbolton has an enviable reputation in clay pigeon shooting, with several National Championship titles to our name. Led by a C.P.S.A level 1 and 2 coach, former County captain and County champion, instruction is provided at Shooting Targets - one of the largest and best clubs in the country. In addition to the Nationals, pupils compete in friendlies against other schools and Old Kimboltonian teams.
Equestrianism
Lessons for all abilities take place at Backnoe End Equestrian Centre. All riders can take part in our Ingrams gymkhana during the Summer term and Autumn Show during October half term. For those with their own ponies we also compete in NSEA and other local schools’ competitions, across all disciplines: showjumping, arena eventing and dressage.
Rounders
Tactics, speed-play, catching, throwing, batting… this fast-moving team game is ever-popular with our staff and pupils. Structured training sessions help improve pupils' performance in competitive fixtures and friendly matches, including the annual girls’ v boys’ challenge for our Ingrams, Middles and Senior teams.
Swimming
Sessions are taught by our ASA coach and give children the opportunity to further develop their stroke technique and fitness.
Competitive dives, starts, turns and finishes are all taught in preparation for inter-school galas.
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 125-mile Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race (DW) – ‘the canoeist’s Everest’.
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.
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Departmental Staff
Head of Boys' Games
Head of Girls' Games