sport at fettes
Excellence in sport is a long-standing tradition at Fettes College and we believe it contributes significantly to the all-round development of each pupil. Whether an enthusiastic amateur or future Olympian, we have the facilities, expertise and enthusiasm to help each and every pupil achieve their sporting goals.
Inclusive
We believe that every child is talented. The role of sport at Fettes College is to bring out that talent. Every single child is important to us and by offering a broad and diverse sporting programme, our students encounter a variety of sporting experiences, which we hope will allow every one of them the opportunity to shine.
Inspiring
Our on-site facilities are amongst the best in the UK and are in constant use throughout the year. A ‘culture of activity’ is very evident at Fettes and our talented Games coaches, assisted by well qualified and carefully recruited specialists across a wide range of sports, are here to cater for the needs of every child, regardless of the level of performance.
Enjoyable
At Fettes College we are one big family. We want our students to engage with sport and, whilst competitive fixtures do play a large role in our sporting programme, they are not the driving force behind what we do. Most of our sports coaches are members of the academic staff and they ensure that every child is continuing their all-round personal development through the sporting programme.
Aspirational
At Fettes College we cater for all our students needs and this includes those who might seek district or national representation. We have a structured scholarship system in place and these students can access an outstanding programme designed specifically to aid their long-term athletic development. One-to-one coaching sessions, nutritional advice, mentoring and links with national governing bodies and local sports clubs give these students the tools they require to be successful.
ATHLETICS
Summer A mix of field and track events, coached by our specialist athletics team. The College attends a number of athletic meets across the summer term, with the whole school Summer Sports Day being a fantastic culmination to the school sporting calendar.
BADMINTON
Year Round
We have a developing fixture list and badminton is a major participation sport, enjoyed by both boys and girls. Using the fantastic double sports hall facility in Westwoods we can cater for an 8-court badminton event or training.
BASKETBALL
Autumn and Spring
This is a competitive boys sport. The team compete on either a Tuesday or Saturday against opposing schools and is a growing sport at The College
CRICKET
Summer
One of our major sports, Fettes College is in the top 100 schools in the UK for our cricket provision. We have a very strong coaching team and fixture list to ensure the very best cricketing provision for our students across the year groups.
CROSS COUNTRY
Year Round
The team will vary their running between the Pentlands Hills, city runs in and around Edinburgh as well as utilising the school grounds to ensure a variety of running opportunities. In the spring term the team will attend and compete in a range of cross country meets with other schools.
DANCE
Year Round
A small but growing cohort of students opt to take dance with one of our specialist dance teachers. Due to the nature of the activity, the content can be flexible, based on the individual interests and levels of students who opt for this popular activity.
FIVES
Year Round
In fives, an old English sport, a ball is propelled against the walls of a 4-sided special court, using a gloved hand as though it were a racquet. This is a fantastic sport, played by both boys and girls on our very own Fives courts within the College grounds.
GOLF Summer
A summer sport that enjoys the availability of a variety of local challenging courses. The golf team play in a number of national events in match play and stroke play. Edinburgh is blessed with a number of fantastic local courses that the team play through the week, complemented by a number of driving ranges and coaching sessions.
FOOTBALL
Autumn and Spring
Football is open to boys and girls. A popular sport that is complemented by a strong and growing local fixture programme.
HOCKEY
Autumn and Spring
Hockey is our largest sport at Fettes, played by girls in the autumn term and boys in the spring term, with strong links to the national league club The Grange. We have the benefit of an on-site, world-class hockey pitch in the water-based McMurray facility.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Year Round
We run a variety of fitness classes throughout the year, from spinning to dance fitness and aerobics. Using the purpose-built fitness suite, this choice allows students to develop a healthy fitness regime during our games provision.
HORSE RIDING
Year Round
Horse riding is run on a Tuesday and Thursday using a local horse riding centre. A small cohort of experienced riders are transported and supervised using our staff expertise to offer guidance and mentoring opportunities.
LACROSSE
Spring
Lacrosse is played by the girls in the spring term across all age groups. A highlight of the Lacrosse calendar is the national finals, when we compete against the best schools in the UK. A great sport that girls start to participate in from 3rd Form and develop throughout their sporting life here at Fettes College.
NETBALL
Autumn and Spring
Netball is a growing sport at Fettes College, and this is reflected by a strong fixtures list and growing participation amongst the girls. We play in a variety of mid-week, Saturday competitions and fixtures across the spring term.
RUGBY
Autumn
A major sport with a breadth and depth of playing opportunities across the school.
Fettes competes in the National 1 Conference against the top rugby playing schools in the country, with a number of players entering the Scottish Rugby Union performance pathways.
INDOOR ROWING
Year Round
Complemented by a large number of new indoor rowing machines, the indoor programme is an option sport available to both girls and boys. Each year, in conjunction with British Rowing, we run a talent ID event designed to unearth emerging rowing talent. We also enter the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships.
SCOTTISH ISLAND AND PEAKS
Autumn and Spring
This adventure race is for teams of sailors and fell runners and is held annually on and around the most beautiful parts of the west coast of Scotland. Students take part in an extensive fitness programme to train for this endurance event.
SQUASH
Year Round
Employing a recently refurbished 2-court facility, this sport has enjoyed a growing participation base over recent years. This is an option sport for both girls and boys, complemented by a fixture list in the spring term.
SWIMMING
Year Round
Having the opportunity to use our on-site 6-lane, 25m swimming pool, swimming is an option sport for both boys and girls. Swimming opportunities are available early mornings, during games or in the evening for pupils.
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Year Round
An option sport that is complemented by the Fettes gym which has a wealth of cardio and weight lifting opportunities in the main school. Boys and girls can choose this option or utilize the gym in or around their alternative games programme. We have specialist S&C coaches to offer individualised training programmes and advice to suit every student’s needs.
SHOOTING Year Round
Using our purpose-built Grassie Shooting Range, shooting is an option throughout the year. During the autumn and spring term this is inside, but during the longer, warmer summer afternoons, an outdoor shooting option is available to both boys and girls.
TENNIS Spring and Summer
Using both our own tennis courts when the sun shines and indoor facilities when it doesn’t, tennis is a major sport in the summer for girls. We provide three forms of tennis: team tennis, cardio tennis and social tennis.
Facilities
We are privileged to have access to some outstanding facilities on the Fettes site, including extensive grass pitches for all sports, two floodlit all-weather hockey astroturf pitches, one sand based and the other water based.
We have three cricket squares (two are covered), outdoor cricket nets, six astroturf tennis courts, a marked 400-metre running track, two long jump pits and shot put arena.
Our sports complex includes a 6-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, sports hall with indoor cricket nets, two netball courts, a fitness suite and dance studio.
