Our programme must offer all of our pupils the chance to EXPLORE the opportunities that sport offers, allow them to EXPRESS themselves through their physical wellbeing activities and facilitate those who wish to EXCEL in their chosen path.
Tony is a former professional Rugby player who played for both Saracens and Harlequins in the Premiership. During a 15 year career he was capped 10 times by England, including once as Captain, and was a British Lion on the successful 1997 Tour to South Africa. Tony stayed involved at Harlequins following his playing retirement as part of the management of the club as both a first Team coach and the Academy Director. One of his last roles at Harlequins saw him set up the Women’s and Girls programme. Tony joined Canford in 2020.
WELCOME
The aim of the Canford sports programme is to inspire a generation of Canford pupils to achieve their potential in sport and to promote their physical wellbeing throughout their lives. Having celebrated our Centenary in 2023, the belief is still as strong as ever that sport should be enjoyed by and is valuable to all Canfordians.
Self-confidence, resilience, teamwork and a sense of achievement are qualities readily transferable to other areas of their lives and that is why all the pupils are involved in sport at some level. It is particularly relevant in the pupils’ first year at the school where it is a valuable aid to a sense of belonging.
An afternoon of sport at Canford, seeing pupils partaking in a wide array of activities across the park, hearing the fun and laughter echo around is a highlight of every week. As a sports department we are determined to continue to improve the quality of what we can offer whilst also exploring new avenues and areas where we can assist the pupil’s development.
Canford has a fantastic history in sport and is well equipped to face the challenges of the future. What is important is that we have a clear direction of travel, goals to aim for and the desire to drive the ability for pupils to excel at whatever sport and level they wish to.
TONY DIPROSE Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing
“A lifelong relationship with sport is a key goal for us to achieve for our Canford pupils”
OUR GOALS
GOAL 1
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The development of core life skills across the school population through the medium of sport.
What our pupils can learn through sport is a big part of the person that they will become. Most will not go onto play sport at a high level but it is crucial that we help develop decision makers, leaders and pupils who are resilient to the challenges of the modern world. The ability to equip our pupils with these skills is a major focus of our sports programme.
GOAL 2
WELLBEING
A positive attitude to physical activity through school and beyond.
The mental and physical benefits of physical exercise are well reported and at the forefront of our minds in our offering. By further exploring areas such as sleep, nutrition and injury prevention we aim to both improve the pupils overall wellbeing whilst also challenging them to take ownership of their own preparation for life after school.
GOAL 3
PARTICIPATION
Competitive experiences and opportunities for all through meaningful alternatives and options. Sport is for everyone and we want to provide an environment where all pupils can enjoy and play sport. The variety of options in our programme seeks to instil in our pupils a positive attitude towards physical activity through the school and beyond. Pupils are involved each week with teams at different levels and in competition where possible. A lifelong relationship with sport is something that we will attempt to nurture for the pupils whilst actively promoting healthy and active lifestyles.
GOAL 4
PERFORMANCE
Development of all of our pupils to be the best they can be including those individuals who wish to strive for high performance.
Great facilities and a very strong experienced group of coaches are aligned with further support in strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, psychology and analysis to allow Canford pupils to pursue their ambitions adding advice where needed.
TOP-CLASS FACILITIES
THE FACILITIES SITED AT CANFORD INCLUDE:
• 2 Floodlit Hockey Astroturf pitches
• Rugby, Cricket and Football pitches
• Squash Courts and an historic Real Tennis Court
• Netball and Tennis Courts
• On site boat house for Rowing programme on the River Stour
• 9 Hole Golf Course
• Double Sports Hall for indoor sports
• Dance Studio
• 25m Swimming Pool
• 2 x Gyms (1 with Cardio machines, 1 with Free weights, lifting platforms and racks)
“ I feel very lucky to be in a school which has helped me develop my talents in so many different areas.”
OUR SPORTING VALUES
To help prepare pupils for life after school it is important that we drive the right values throughout our sporting programme. The below which links to our school values should be a reflection of what is both being modelled by our staff and the values we wish our pupils to show in the sporting arena:
COURAGEOUS ATTITUDE
The ability for pupils to try things in the sports programme without any fear of failure.
HUMBLE AMBITION
A desire to be the best we can be but all games to be played in the right spirit and with respect accorded to both the opposition and officials involved.
GRACIOUS LEADERSHIP
Sports Staff who allow the pupils to develop their decision-making skills and empathise with the challenges they face and guide them in their development.
PURPOSEFUL ENGAGEMENT
All staff and pupils pulling in the same direction of representing Canford in the best way that they can.
ROBBIE: ENGLAND SWIMMER
Canford has always been supportive of my swimming and helped me to balance my academic work with my sport. As a result I have been able to reach my potential in both - I was really pleased with my GCSE results and am enjoying my A Level subjects, while also representing the Swim England U18s Squad for two years in a row now. Swimming at a high level takes a lot of courage and nerve, and I feel very lucky to be in a school which has helped me develop my talents in so many different areas.
FOCUS TEAM SPORTS
OUR SPORTS PROGRAMME
From coming in as a Shell to when they leave at the end of the Upper Sixth we believe sport should play an important role in the development of all pupils physical and mental wellbeing at Canford.
In the Shell year the starting point in the sports programme is building new relationships with the other pupils whilst having the opportunity to explore Canford’s focus team sports across the three terms. A multi-sports philosophy across the three terms is championed so that pupils experience different games. There is also a structured programme of Athletic Development delivered in both the Shell Carousel and games sessions to help develop the pupil’s movement patterns as we look to prevent and protect against potential injury. All Shells will also get the opportunity to experience Rowing and a chance to try Real Tennis in Carousel sessions. There are also further options to try out and participate in other sports during clubs and activities time which sees the opportunity for experiencing sports such as Netball, Hockey, Rugby 7s, Climbing, Futsal (5-a-side Football), Canoeing and Table Tennis.
As the pupils move through the Fourth and Fifth Form, along with the continuation of the focus team sports, more options are available for pupils to choose including at various times Indoor Hockey, Swimming, Running, Badminton, Basketball, Golf, Squash, Real Tennis and Dance.
The Sixth Form sees a further expansion of options including Football and Exercise to Music classes for both boys and girls. For those who would like the opportunity to specialise extra ‘performance groups’ are also available in our Focus Team Sports. Girls Football and girls Rugby are also delivered in activities time as we start to build competitive opportunities in those areas.
Canford has a fine reputation for sport and successes are evident across inter-school fixtures and competitions and at county, regional and national level. Recent individual accolades include pupils selected for national junior teams in Hockey, Cricket, Athletics and Swimming and at full national level in Hockey and Rugby. Team success has seen the school on the podium in national competitions in Rowing, Hockey, Netball and Golf. Most recently our female cricketers reached the top 4 in the country and finals day in the National T20 Competition at both U15 and U18 level. Our excellent facilities are also regularly used by teams and clubs and 2022 saw Fiji Men’s and Women’s teams base their preparations at Canford before the Commonwealth Games.
Recent sports scholars include England U19 and England Lions Cricketer Eddie Jack who has already made his senior Hampshire debut and Swimmer Robbie Hemmings who represented Great Britain at senior level in the USA. We also have a number of our former Sports Scholars and High Performers currently excelling in professional sport. Will Butt and Arthur Cordwell are playing for Bath Rugby in the Premiership and for Archie Van der Flier for Leicester Tigers. Felix Organ and Tom Prest are regular 1st XI players for Hampshire Cricket and Tom has also represented England Lions. Martha Taylor made her debut in 2023 for both England and GB Hockey and will be looking to make the GB squad for the next Olympics. America has been a direction of travel for many and recent OC Discus thrower Rhys Allen is continuing his studies with a sports scholarship at Maryland University whilst also representing Great Britain in the European U20 Championships. Fellow Discus thrower Adam Phillips is ranked in the top 10 in the UK whilst studying at Drake University. They have been joined in the USA by OC’s Dom Hudson, Alicia Hudson and Charlotte Brook who were all awarded sports scholarships in Hockey (Dom and Alicia) and Golf (Charlotte).
Getting the balance right for our pupils is at the core of how we work with our scholars and high performers. All are made fully aware that academic effort and adhering to Canford’s values is an essential and expected element of the programme. The school has excellent relationships with a large number of professional sports clubs in the region which includes many of our staff working and helping in their academy and development programmes. Relationships include Bath RFC, Team Bath Netball, Hampshire and Dorset County Cricket and England Hockey. These relationships and this approach enables us to make sure that we continue to deliver best practice and high level coaching for our pupils, balance their programmes and commitments and to further aid their long term development.
SPORTS SCHOLARS
Core elements that are delivered to Sports Scholars in addition to our normal sports programme:
• Individualised strength and conditioning programmes.
• Enhanced physiotherapy and medical support.
• 1:1 video analysis sessions.
• 1:1 mentoring available.
• Travel support for Pathway athletes.
• In person Sports Scholar Enrichment Programme and webinar series including discussions on sleep, nutrition, recovery and sports psychology.
• A small % fee remission, and access to means tested bursary assistance for those who qualify.
