At Bradford Grammar School (BGS), sport is at the heart of our school life. It’s not just about playing games or competing; it’s about nurturing personal growth, building character and helping every pupil discover their passion. From the youngest in Reception to our most senior students in Year 13, our aim is to ensure every child, no matter their ability, gets a chance to thrive.
This inclusive approach is embedded throughout the school, making sport accessible to all. Whether it’s rugby, netball, rowing or cricket, pupils are introduced to a variety of sports as soon as they join us. Our Clock House programme, led by Georgina Jones, is a perfect example. It introduces children to sport in an engaging and developmental fashion, allowing them to find joy in physical activity while building essential skills. Many go on to play key roles in our senior teams, showing how early engagement in sport sets the foundation for future success.
This ethos of participation and development is supported by world-class facilities, expert coaching and a forward-thinking approach to school sport. BGS encourages pupils to participate in sport at every level while also identifying and nurturing elite talent. The achievements of our pupils are a testament to this. BGS has a long history of producing outstanding athletes, from the world-famous Brownlee brothers, whose Olympic triathlon success continues to inspire, to Emile Caress, the second-fastest British marathon runner of all time. More recently, students like Rebecca Flaherty and Amelie Lane, who represent Great Britain in distance running, or Alex Wade who has just signed his first contract with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, demonstrate the depth and breadth of talent at BGS.
Our focus is always on expanding and refining our sports programmes so every pupil, from beginner to elite, can reach their full potential. We’re not just about winning trophies, though we do love those; it’s about building character and making sure our pupils leave with lessons that will last a lifetime.
Personally, I’ve always been passionate about sport and its role in personal development. My own career started with playing and coaching at various levels, from representative rugby to Premier League cricket. I was fortunate to spend time in New Zealand playing for Auckland University, which gave me an international perspective on sports development. I originally trained as a history teacher at Durham University, but my heart was always in sport. After completing my studies, I returned to my alma mater, Denstone College, as Director of Rugby. From there, I moved to Norwich School, where I served as Head of Performance Sport, gaining valuable insights into athletic development during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during this period that I began a PhD in youth sport and talent development, a project I continue alongside my role at BGS.
Here at BGS, my role is more than just managing day-to-day sports activities; it’s about shaping the strategic direction of our sports provision. I work with a dedicated team of around 20 coaches and PE teachers to ensure we deliver a cohesive, purpose-driven programme. Whether we’re introducing a student to a new sport or helping an aspiring elite athlete reach the next level, every aspect of our work is designed to help our pupils find enjoyment in a discipline and succeed.
In recent years, we’ve made great strides in improving our athletic development programme. Thanks to the generous support of the Parents’ Association, we’ve installed a new cardiovascular gym equipped with state-of-the-art bikes, rowing machines and SkiErgs, and we also have exciting plans to revamp our performance gym to ensure it caters to the needs of all of our pupils.
One of the most exciting developments in our department is the launch of the new Sports Scholarship scheme. This initiative is designed to support students with big sporting dreams – those aspiring to play at a representative level or already on that path. Scholars will receive personalised guidance in strength and conditioning, mental skills and mentoring. But it’s about more than just sport; we’re focused on equipping them with the life skills they need to succeed off the field, too. We’re partnering with Grey Matters Performance to bring in a visiting sports psychologist to develop the appropriate skills and characteristics, to support their aspirations. It’s another exciting opportunity for our athletes.
As we look to the future of sport at BGS, we’re committed to refining and expanding our programmes further, continuing to build a sporting culture that benefits everyone. Sport here is about more than competition and achievement – it’s about building character and teaching the value of teamwork. Whether on the rugby field, cricket pitch or in the rowing boat, our students are learning lessons that will stay with them long after they leave school. And that’s something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.
“Sport here is about more than competition and achievement – it’s about building character and teaching the value of teamwork. ”
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