Golf   Close

The St Edward's School Links Golf Course is a hidden gem of North Oxford and of the school site. We are extremely fortunate to have a wonderful 6 hole golf course on the school site. Each hole has three possible tee positions making a total of 18 possible playable holes. The course is carefully maintained throughout the year offering fantastic playing conditions in all seasons.

Pupils are invited to take membership of the St Edward's Golf club and on joining all pupils are given a detailed induction to the course, and general golf etiquette. Members are free to play the course in their free time, on weekends, as part of structured team sessions or as part of the activity programme for those in the lower year groups. Golf tuition is available and we are proud offer coaching from a very experienced and highly qualified golf professional. Tuition is by prior booking with the Master in charge of Golf, Mr John Simpson.

The school does not offer golf as a major games option but pupils are encouraged to play when they can. The school week and coaching availability makes it very easy for pupils to develop their golf skills and also have plenty of match play opportunity. Pupils do have the opportunity to play golf competitively and we regulalry have fixtures against other leading schools as well as being in the National Schools competition.

Hockey   Close

Hockey is the major sport for the girls during the Autumn term and the boys during the Spring term.

Hockey is a popular sport for both boys and girls and, with the two floodlit astro-turf pitches, training and matches are able to continue throughout the terms until 6 pm. Pre-season hockey is coached through the Autumn term for the boys and the Summer term for the girls to ensure thorough preparation for the start of each term. In both boys’ and girls’ hockey, there are 3 senior sides, one or two U16 sides and three at U15 and U14 level.

The girls have had considerable success over the past few years. Between 2006-2008 the 1st XI reached the National Schools Finals over two consecutive years and have been county champions for the past seven years. St Edward’s were also county champions at U14, U16 and U18 level in 2008 and repeated the feat in 2012. In previous years our boys U14, U16 & U18 sides have also reached the semi-finals of the National Knock out competition.

The Head of Hockey, Zak Jones, is a former international with 117 caps and is currently the Head Coach of Wales Senior Men as well as coaching Buckingham Ladies Hockey Club in the National League. He is superbly supported by a team of experienced and committed staff including Huw Jones a current senior international with over 100 caps and current Great Britain & England squad member Zoe Shipperley.

Past and present pupils have reached high standards in hockey playing at international, national, regional and county standard. Former pupil Rupert Shipperley was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2013 Youth Olympics in Sydney whilst his sister Zoe Shipperley represented England at U21 level and is currently a funded athlete in the Great Britain and England squad. Peter Swainson, with 86 caps for Wales is another past pupil who is currently playing international hockey. Many past players have also earned blues. The most recent being Jasper Joyce for Cambridge in 2013. Sarah Baggs also earned a recent Cambridge Blue whilst former 1^st XI captain Ben Battcock captained the Dark Blues.

Netball   Close

Netball is one of the major sports for girls during the Spring term.

Netball training takes place throughout the Autumn term in preparation for the county tournaments and to allow the best start for a short, yet extremely busy term. Netball is going from strength to strength with the juniors having very good seasons last year.

St Edward’s has an excellent reputation at county level competing in the qualifying rounds for the National Schools Championship at U19, U16, U15 and U14 level. In recent years our teams have reached the regional finals across all age groups.

More girls than ever opt for netball and block fixtures involving up to 16 teams ensure that the girls have the opportunity to represent the School at a variety of levels. Last year we ran four seniors’ sides, three U16, and four at U15 and U14 level. Across the board teams are successful, playing a strong, competitive and full fixture list against other similarly matched teams.

At St Edward’s, the girls benefit from enthusiastic, knowledgeable and dedicated coaching staff who have helped to raise the standard of play in the past few years.

A number of our girls play for academy clubs, competing to a high standard and we have links with Hucclecote Netball Club and more locally, Abbey Netball Club.

Rowing   Close

The School has a long and proud tradition of rowing. Crews compete at local, national and international level.

Events include the National Schools, Henley Royal and Women’s Henley Regattas. Each year we are delighted to see individuals achieve selection to race on the international stage. This has been achieved in recent years from U16 through to U18 levels. Our alumni include World Junior and Senior medallists and have featured prominently in the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race.

In the summer of 2012, two of the current boys’ senior squad were in the silver medal winning junior eight at the World Junior Championships, held in Plovdiv. The 2011 captain of boats, Cameron MacRitchie, received the Olympic Torch from Sir Steve Redgrave at the peak of the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony.

The Boathouse overlooks Port Meadow and the famous ‘dreaming spires’ of Oxford. Recently refurbished, it provides showers, changing facilities, updating of the long-standing ‘club room’, space for a fleet of rowing machines and staff accommodation.

This is a wonderful facility that contributes a great deal to School life. With kayaks, punting and skiff expeditions there is something for anyone who is into “messing about on the river”. However, with International standard coaching and facilities, the boat club is set to continue racing and winning at the highest level.

Rugby Union   Close

Participation, performance and excellence

St Edward’s rugby club has for many years provided pupils with an opportunity to train and play rugby against some of the best schools in the country. The rugby club has developed over the years under the various masters in charge, but at all times St Edward’s has produced competitive and well organised teams who play with great skill, passion and creativity.

The ethos over the years has moved from one of organisation and planned moves to developing and enhancing the boys’ skills, decision making and tactical awareness. The ethos now is very much to be better than the opposition at the basic skills. With the advent of professionalism in the game the rugby club has also moved with the times. No stone is left unturned in ensuring that the teams are prepared to produce the best possible results. A vast number of school coaches are qualified at one level or another and there is a very high level of enthusiasm and dedication amongst the teachers in charge.

Rugby offers St Edward’s pupils more than just a game. It provides them with an opportunity to experience leadership, camaraderie, team work and pride in the long standing tradition of rugby at Teddies. I hope that all the staff and boys continue to work hard to develop and maintain the Teddies traditions.

Sports Development Programme   Close

“Participation, Performance, Excellence and Enjoyment”

The approach to sport at St Edward’s is in line with the School’s belief that the best preparation for adult life is a breadth of opportunity. Every pupil at St Edward’s will have the opportunity to enjoy their sport.

There is a sporting activity to suit everyone with pupils able to take part and compete in a varied sports programme. Pupils have the opportunity to play a wide range of team sports but also participate in other sports where they have individual talents as well as experience a range of health and fitness related activities. Through playing sport we aim to encourage and foster team spirit, camaraderie, sportsmanship, leadership, discipline and increased self-esteem.

Every pupil takes part in games at least three times a week with coaching offered on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. Matches are played on Saturday afternoons. Before a leave weekend or Exeat, matches are played on the Thursday afternoon.

St Edward’s takes sport seriously and has always had a first class sporting reputation, competing in a strong and demanding fixture list against other schools, with as many pupils as possible playing in matches. Many of our teams successfully take part in county and national tournaments. Sport at the school is driven by a team of highly skilled coaches with a number of them having played or coached at national standard. Our top sports players and sports awards holders are developed and mentored under the Team St Edward’s programme.

Pupils are able to further develop their sport by training and competing with local and national clubs.

At St Edward’s we recognise that not all pupils are top level athletes but we offer a programme which caters for all ability levels. It is our priority to offer excellent sporting provision at the participation and performance levels. In the sixth form pupils have an opportunity to follow a health and fitness centred programme if they do not participate in the major team sports.

St Edward’s has high expectations of the pupils offering outstanding opportunities for sport with its superb facilities, which include the New Martyrs Sports Pavilion, a self-contained strength and conditioning facility, 2 astro-turf pitches, all weather netball/tennis courts, multiple sports fields and a 9-hole golf course. Pupils are also able to make wide use of the St Edward’s Oxfordshire Health and Racket Club.

St Edward’s sports tours take pupils overseas and in recent years our teams have travelled to Italy, Spain, South Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Barbados and Canada. Please see the touring link for further information.

For further information relating to any sporting enquiry please contact the Head of Sport, Andy Dalgleish DalgleishA@stedwardsoxford.org

Tennis   Close

Tennis is a major sport for girls in the summer term.

St Edward’s facilities provide a large number of courts over the two astro-turf pitches and four hard courts and all year round access to four indoor courts. There are four senior sides, two U16, and four at U15 and U14 level. There is also opportunity for non-team players to receive coaching and enjoy the game.

Tennis coaching is provided all year round for those elite players who also have access to the indoor courts at the onsite Oxfordshire Health and Rackets Club, with individual and group sessions being arranged.

St Edward’s has a close association with The Oxfordshire Racket Academy. The best players are warmly welcomed into this programme and, depending on their level, may play additional matches throughout the year. This training is in addition to regular sports commitments. Our U15 A team was unbeaten last season.