As one of the leading independent preparatory schools in the North, we know that our many co-educational sporting opportunities and achievements help complement our excellent academic success.

Sport has been a key area of development for the School over recent years and we are delighted to share our new and exciting provision.
Mr Heseltine joined Froebelian in September 2021 as a specialist PE and Games Teacher and our Head of Sports Development. We are delighted to partner this year with Leeds Trinity University and Yarnbury Rugby Club to provide first class sporting facilities for both our core curriculum and extra-curricular sports provision.  From September 2022 we have been joined by specialist coaches in netball, football and rugby, which combined with the specialist PE training and distinguished sporting records of our existing staff, allows us to provide the highest quality coaching and opportunities to all our children.

We understand that children instinctively enjoy sport and we know that it is vital that young children exercise regularly.

The importance of full participation of men and women in sporting activities at all levels is now recognised in society with gender equality and non-discrimination forming an integral part of sport’s educational and social functions. Had it gone ahead, the Tokyo Olympics 2020 was going to include mixed-gender relays in swimming, athletics and triathlon, as well as mixed team events in archery, fencing and judo. There would have also been a mixed doubles table tennis competition.

It is important that schools play their part to ensure equal access and participation for boys and girls in all areas of sport at grassroots level.

There are multiple benefits to a co-educational approach:

• Children have the opportunity to access new sports which may have previously been closed to them. They may discover new skills and talents which can be nurtured and developed.
• Evidence shows that boys behave more responsibly and tend to be less aggressive. They also develop more patience. Girls benefit by improving their skills, stamina and resilience to compete on an equal footing with all their peers.
• Children learn how to be better team players, while some might feel empowered to take up more leadership roles.
• Allowing boys and girls to play together brings out the best in players of both genders, with fewer complaints, arguments and jealousy in comparison with sports played by a single gender.
• Somewhere between the ages of 9 and 11 children begin to develop gender stereotypes. Involving them in co-educational sports early is an opportunity to curb those ideas before they start.

An added advantage at primary age is that girls and boys are physically on an even level so there is no scientific reason to separate them.

Therefore, in the Juniors, boys and girls participate together now in a wider range of sports in Games lessons during the year, including football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket and rounders. All children have an equal opportunity to succeed in each sport and a culture of skills development and personal achievement is encouraged.

Junior Games
We operate an inclusive Games provision with opportunities for all children to develop their skills in a range of sports. We have secured additional sports specialists who will be joining the Juniors for their Games afternoons throughout the year. With experience which spans the Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 age ranges, these dedicated sports specialists will work alongside Mr Heseltine and the staff to deliver high-quality, skills-focused Games sessions in netball, rugby and football. The children will build a range of transferable skills alongside learning rules, techniques and tactics to develop their competitive game play.
Mr Heseltine is also building on last year’s fixtures calendar to ensure that all children will have opportunities to represent Froebelian in both competitive and friendly matches and festivals. The sports specialists assist in running teams for fixtures and in delivering our after-school sports clubs on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Football & Rugby
Our U9 and U11 football and rugby sessions are run at purpose built off-site facilities at Yarnbury RFC in Horsforth, throughout the Autumn & Spring Terms. The provision is delivered by our specialist rugby coach and supported by Mr Finan.
For football, we have secured a semi-professional player Will Thornton – a Defender for Scarborough Athletic – from Guiseley AFC who will be joining Mr Heseltine to coach the children. Sessions will take place on the AGP pitch at Yarnbury.

Froebelian Football Club is delighted to welcome Scarborough Athletic Defender Will Thornton, who coaches Froebelian pupils on Tuesday evenings. Find out more here

Netball

Our U9 and U11 netball teams are coached by the experienced Froebelian Staff Team.

We are very excited to be introducing these significant enhancements and are confident that the children will benefit enormously from both the input of specialist coaches and the opportunity to access high-quality, purpose-built sporting venues.

We continue to be extremely proud of the commitment our children demonstrate.

2013 Alumni Moh Ritson now has a racing career which sees him competing in the GT Cup Championships.

Other Alumni sporting achievements include: A pupil taking part in the Yorkshire Swim Championships finishing an incredible 4th in Yorkshire – with times of 34.4 seconds in the 50m fly and 32.23 seconds in the 50m free; and a pupil being selected as an Academy Player at Manchester United Football Club for the 2019-20 season, having been awarded his first contract at 9 years old.

“The ski trip was a completely new sport to me and it definitely put me out of my comfort zone and made me want to do it again and again”

Read more about sport and our fantastic programme of extra-curricular activities here