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6
ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE
Are we particularly successful at
certain sports at the moment?
Yes. The national competitions give us a
chance to measure that success. The rowers
were in the internationally-contested Henley
Final two years running. Our cricketers
compete for a prestigious trophy, the John
Harvey Cup, and have won it for the past
three years (beating Radley, Marlborough,
Bradfield, Winchester and Cheltenham in
order to do so). Our girls’ hockey teams
always perform exceptionally well - the
1st XI were crowned County Champions
last term and secured their place in school
history as the second most successful team
ever. The 2015 boys’ rugby XV enjoyed
their best season since 2005. A number of
our girl and boy rowers have represented
GB in recent years and several are currently
in contention for the squad – and so the list
goes on.
Tell me about coaching.
As sports have progressed and we offer
more options, there has been a need to
recruit more coaches. We have a highly-
skilled team, including over 20 Oxford and
Cambridge Blues, 10 individuals who have
competed at international level – including
an Olympian – and five who have coached
internationally. We are very fortunate to
be in Oxford, a city closely linked with
sporting tradition and success. We recruit
teachers who are highly active sportsmen
and women, which is of huge benefit to the
pupils. We don’t want to become a school
where we have teachers in the classroom
and sports coaches on the pitches and no
crossover between the two.
How do we look after our elite
sportsmen and women?
The elite programme has changed in recent
years. The school is busier than it used to
be. It’s difficult to bring pupils together
for a dedicated training session – as the
programme used to run – but we now
have Mark Munro, full-time strength and
conditioning coach, and Rachel Hallam,
part-time elite sports coach, who provide
bespoke training programmes for each
individual. Pupils train and meet with Mark
and Rachel as and when their wider school
timetable permits. Younger sports scholars
still get together for a group session once
a week. This approach allows a tailored
programme – each sport can focus on their
particular requirements.
How do we look after the pupil who
is not at all engaged in sport?
Sport is compulsory – all pupils will
participate in at least three sports sessions
per week. To cater for all levels, we offer
a range of activities, not necessarily team
sport, but physical activity – such as dance
or golf – so that everyone can find a
way to be involved. Pupils can have fixed
ideas about sport. They might have been
pigeon-holed in previous schools and see
themselves at a certain level. It’s the same
with any area of school life – academic,
music, outdoor pursuits. If you come to
a new school, you have to give things a
go. You never know where you might
find yourself.
Why is sport important in school?
The physical health benefits are vital, as is
the fostering of team spirit. Sport offers
challenge in a different environment, away
from the classroom, but there is a great
deal of crossover between the two. We
try to help pupils understand that it is easy
to become engaged in sport at school – all
facilities, coaches and opportunities are
on site and readily available. If they take
advantage of these now, and create good
habits for the future, it will help them
enormously in later life.
AJ Woodland
In 2011 I arrived at Teddies on a Sports
Scholarship. Teddies sport offered a variety
of activities from main sports such as
rugby, hockey and netball to health and
fitness, and spinning. Being at Teddies has
allowed me to play alongside some of the
best sportsmen in our region (including
Miles Hammond, England U19 and
Gloucestershire cricketer), and to work
with some of the best coaches (such as Mr
Hanslip, former England U16 rugby coach).
Whatever your ability, Teddies has a great
deal to offer.
I have always enjoyed rugby but the
Shell season was very up and down. Having
not won a game in the first half of the
season to being undefeated in the second
was a huge achievement. Having watched
the 1st XV play on the prestigious Upper
1 since Shells made me want to represent
that team even more. Now in the Upper
Sixth, having played two years in the 1st
XV, I have earned my colours and stand
as a leader within the team. My most
profound Teddies rugby memory would
be either beating Radley away from home
last year or kicking the winning penalty in a
13-12 win against Bloxham.
I had never played hockey before I
arrived at Teddies. I represented the A
team from Shells right through to Fifth
Form. It took me three years of pain to
finally win my first ever hockey game
against Wellington which was a massive
relief. I then went on to represent the 1st
XI in the Lower Sixth and will do so again
this season.
I am always impatient for the Summer
Term – and cricket. I have always had
a huge passion for cricket and couldn’t
wait to get started at Teddies. I have
represented the 1st XI since Fourth Form
and have been lucky enough to be involved
in three of the most successful teams
Teddies has produced. I earned my colours
in the Fifth Form and that year saw the
Teddies 1st XI become the most successful
team in 150 years. The 2015 Teddies 1st XI
went on to win the John Harvey Cup for a
third successive year in which we beat the
likes of Radley, Marlborough and Bradfield.
AJ was previously at Davenies.