Girls' Sport

Nurturing our Talented Sportswomen 

At Ellesmere College our experienced team of teachers and coaches have the expertise to ensure all girls benefit from regular participation in sport. Our ethos of inclusivity and opportunity in physical activity, and our professional approach towards talent development, ensure that sport really is for all. As a result, our pupils are happy, healthy and confident as we aim to achieve a lifelong love of physical activity and sport.

All girls at Ellesmere College have the opportunity to take part in physical activity and sport, be it on a recreational or competitive basis. Those who show talent for sport are nurtured, developed and given opportunities to step onto the player performance pathway in their sport of choice.

The importance of sport participation for all

Physical inactivity is probably at its highest level in the UK and it contributes to one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in developed countries. The benefits of physical activity for girls are vast and at Ellesmere College we understand its importance. We also understand that the physical activity needs and motivations for boys and girls are very different, thus our physical activity and sport programmes reflect this. From Years 3 to 13, first and foremost, there is an emphasis on inclusivity, teamwork and fun. All pupils have a minimum of 3 hours of co-curricular sport per week. Pupils in Years 3 to 9 also have 1 hour of core Physical Education. Pupils in Year 10 and 11 can choose to study GCSE PE and in Year 12 and 13 A-Level PE and BTEC Sport are both academic options. There are numerous further opportunities to participate physically in our extensive co-curricular sport programme, be it social hockey, lunchtime cricket nets, or evening yoga, there is something for everyone.

Specialist teaching and outstanding coaching

Our expert teaching and coaching staff, some of them international athletes themselves, are able to provide specialist coaching to teams, small groups and individuals, guaranteeing that every girl receives the right level of instruction she needs to make progress. Whether developing our elite performers or opening-up sport for everyone, we make sure all abilities are catered for and that everyone is challenged, extended and encouraged to meet and exceed her potential.

Nurturing our talented sportswomen

The player performance pathway begins at Ellesmere College when girls are selected to compete for the school in our extensive fixtures programme. All pupils are encouraged to take up this opportunity and in the younger years we ensure all pupils represent the school. Additional clubs and 1:1 skill and fitness coaching is available for those who are ambitious in their sport of choice. Those that are keen and display talent for a particular sport are encouraged to trial for county, regional and national teams.

In 2018, two Ellesmere College Sixth Form swimmers - Cassie Wild and Freya Anderson - competed in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, whilst Old Ellesmerian, Caro Hulme, also played with the Welsh Hockey team. Her twin sister Lottie Hulme is a member of the Welsh Ladies Indoor Hockey Squad and recently competed in the European Championships. Former OE, Shannon Davies, is a member of the Senior GB Ladies target shooting team; whilst Year 11 tennis player, Aditi Chezhian, is ranked No. 1 in Wales for her age group. The Year 7 & 8 and Year 9 & 10 girl's tennis teams were Midlands Finalists in 2017, as were the 1st XI Hockey team in 2016 and 2017.

Excellent facilities and extensive opportunities

Our excellent indoor and outdoor facilities, including swimming pool, sportshall, fitness suite, weights room, squash courts, all weather pitch, netball courts, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and extensive grass pitches for athletics, cricket and rounders, enable us to offer multiple sports for all age groups, both on the curriculum and during co-curricular time. Our major game during the Michaelmas term is hockey. During the Lent term it is netball and in the Summer term there is a combination of cricket, rounders and team tennis. Other competitive sports include, badminton, fencing, golf, shooting and swimming. As well as a plethora of recreational physical activities, such as yoga, fitness to music and table tennis.

Above all, our approach to sport and our inclusive ethos mean that, as well as spotting and developing outstanding talent, our staff have the specialist knowledge, personal experience and creativity to ensure all girls benefit from the positive effects of regular participation in sport. As a result, pupils gain a sense of self-worth, happiness and achievement that they carry beyond Ellesmere College setting healthy habits for a lifetime.