Sport at Bede’s Prep The longstanding reputation which Bede’s has forged for sporting excellence is firmly embedded in our Prep School as well as at senior level. Few prep schools can offer the calibre of coaching found at Bede’s Prep and these opportunities deepen year or year, with a gradually more expansive training and fixtures programme. The Team Bede’s ethos guides sporting life at Bede’s Prep in just the same way as it does at the Senior School. The core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, humility, discipline and leadership provide the cornerstone for how sport is taught at Bede’s Prep. By the time that pupils move up to the Senior School, pupils are
accustomed and comfortable with how values should be applied to sports lessons, training and competitive fixtures. Sport for all is reflected through the bespoke style of teaching and coaching which enables progression and participation at every level and the holistic development of each individual. Sport and fitness at Bede’s are for all and we aim to encourage a lifelong love of sport.
Gemma Towner Head of Prep School Games E: gemma.towner@bedes.org
Core Sports As at the Senior School, we offer three Core Sports at Bede’s Prep:
Cricket
Our cricket provision is extensive, offering the opportunity for pupils to train three times a week to play matches throughout the Summer Term alongside an indoor cricket programme which runs during the winter months. Many of our most successful cricketing alumni including Luke Wells, Ollie Rayner, Archie Lenham and Ali Orr began playing cricket at Bede’s Prep before moving on to the Senior School and then onto professional playing careers. Continuity of coaching, our year-round programme, access to top level facilities as well as to specialist support including Strength and Conditioning training are all key elements of our success in developing cricketing talent. We participate in a highly competitive fixture programme against other top cricketing schools across the country and run sufficient teams such that all girls and boys who want to compete for their school can do so. The programme is led by former professionals Alan Wells, Sarah Taylor and Neil Lenham. 34
Football
Pupils at Bede’s Prep play football through the entire Autumn term (boys) and Spring Terms (girls) with training twice a week and fixtures on Wednesdays or Saturdays. There are also opportunities in Year 7 and 8 to trial with the Junior Football Academy, run in conjunction with Swerve Soccer, which offers top level weekly coaching and trains on a Thursday evening. Coaching is led by Football Specialist and Ex Chelsea player Kellie Larkin, Director of Football (UEFA A and ISFA coach) David Caryer, supported by ex-professional Dan Harding (Ipswich Town, BHA, Southampton) and Director of Swerve Football Academy, Oliver Davies. This integrated approach to coaching supports players as they transition up to the Senior School; by the time pupils join the Senior School our coaching team will have been able to put in place individualised action plans. The Junior Academy also competes against other local academies and this combination of training and fixtures provides a singular and foundational opportunity for young players.
