Oundle Sports
Sport is highly valued and flourishes at Oundle. The School prides itself in its pursuit of sporting excellence and elite performance competing in local, regional and national competitions across a wide range of sports and age groups. Pupils participate in a minimum of three sports afternoons per week, and can train up to five times with their team on top of individual training programmes. We provide competitive and recreational opportunities for our students and support those who show great potential through our 13+ Scholarship, as well as dedicated support from our coaches , academic staff and pastoral team.
Block fixtures are played against schools including Uppingham, Oakham, Rugby, The Perse, Radley, Harrow, Shrewsbury, Repton, Cheltenham College, Eton, St Edwards, providing opportunities for competitive sport for all our pupils.
Pre-season training in England or abroad is in integral part of our programme, and highly successful sports tours regularly take our pupils to various countries to train with the best coaches and compete against the best teams in Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Barbados.
Coaches
Coaching of top teams is lead by the Heads of Sports, many of whom have performed at the highest level. Mr John Olver and Mr Simon Hodgkinson, who are both former England internationals with World Cup experience, coach the 1st XV Rugby as well as the junior intake at Third Form level.
Mr JR Wake (Master I/C Cricket), a former minor county, is currently Head Scout for Northamptonshire CCC as well as manager for one of the England youth teams. Head of Netball, Mrs Beverley Burnham, is also Head Coach for Loughborough Lightning NTL Squad (U19), Head Coach for Northamptonshire's Excel Programme, and is currently Head Scout for Northamptonshire County Netball Association. Director of Hockey, Mr Gareth Terrett, who is a senior level 3 hockey coach. represented Wales at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. He is now Head Coach with Wales U18 boys. Our coaches are assisted by a team of six graduate Sport Fellows, who all ensure that our pupils experience the best sporting environment Oundle has to offer.
Sporting success
Our students enjoy regular success at local, regional and national levels. Oundle produces a number of county champions, midlands representatives and internationals. In the last couple of years three athletes competed in the national finals at Alexandra Stadium, two in the multi events finals; the U15 cricket team won the Cricketer Cup, U18 and U16 netball competed in the nationals finals; the U15 rugby team made the national semi finals. Hockey teams regularly compete in national finals and in 2009 came second in the country by a single goal; shooting made the national finals; the fives team pushed for national honours and the rowing club has produced Beijing Olympic medallists, as well as won medals at the nationals.
Facilities
There are excellent facilities for traditional team games and other sports. In addition to extensive playing fields, there are two Sports Halls catering for indoor sports, and a well-equipped fitness suite. There are also five squash courts, four rugby fives courts, two floodlit Astroturf pitches, twelve outdoor netball courts (also used as tennis courts during the summer), and an indoor long-course, deck-level swimming. There are School boathouses beside the North Bridge over the River Nene and at Tansor, where the river has an almost straight mile, ideal for training purposes. Sailing takes place on a nearby lake. There is an indoor small-bore shooting range on the School grounds and an outdoor full bore range
Sports staff have access to the latest technical equipment for both games and individual movements, as well as the latest performance analysis Dartfish programme, allowing pupils and staff to take advantage of the latest developments.
Medical support
Dr Clayton is head of the School medical practice and has a sport and exercise background. Also Chartered Physiotherapist, Helen Preston, is onsite to assess and treat injuries or aches. Referrals are made through the GP at the Sanatorium and are paid for either through the school or Private Medical. Helen works closely with Shelley Franklin, Head of Health and Fitness, and sends pupils to her for a full rehabilitation, if applicable. Appointments held initially at the Sanatorium may progress to the fitness suite, if a rehabilitation programme is to be followed. We have specific rehab times, but pupils are welcome to come and consult during voluntaries on any issues of rehab, exercise prescription and nutritional advice.