If a student is not part of a team, they are encouraged to participate in a sport or activity that they can develop and improve upon, in order to promote an interest in the sport and to ensure knowledge and understanding in the areas of health and fitness. Depending on the season, as well as the main sport of the term for those in a team, the range of sports available throughout the year includes:
Sport Programme
Our Physical Education and Games programme gives students an opportunity to play sport and participate in physical activity. In the First to Fourth Forms, students play the major sport of the term (as listed below), so that we have time to teach and coach them to a good level of proficiency.
Breakdown of Sports
Athletics
Athletics
In partnership with Maidstone and Medway Athletics Club, we have our own all-weather Athletics facility on site. With an Olympic-standard 400m track fully equipped for all athletic disciplines, the track is available for students to use during their timetabled lessons and through our enrichment programme.
We have a thriving Athletics club, in which we train for the annual United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation Athletics meet, competing against the other schools in the Foundation. We also hold our own inter-house Sports Day at the end of the Summer Term which is always a fantastic, fiercely-contested occasion.
Cricket
Cricket
Boasting a county-standard wicket and a range of excellent training facilities, Cricket has long been an important part of life at Sutton Valence School.
Our Cricket provision is led by former England, Kent and Leicestershire all-rounder, Mr Wells and Kent county cricketer Miss Jelfs. Critical to the students’ long-term athletic development is the exposure to the core skills that develop hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. Through their training, students are encouraged to develop balance and dexterity, as well as cooperation and teamwork, in the effort to create well-rounded Cricket players.
During the Summer Term, our Cricket teams compete in a busy programme of fixtures against other schools as well as a number of showpiece invitational matches, including the annual OS vs School Cricket Day.
Hockey
Hockey
Our outstanding Hockey facilities include two sand-dressed AstroTurf pitches and a fantastic indoor facility allowing our students to sample both indoor and outdoor Hockey on a regular basis. A major sport for both boys and girls, Hockey is a much-loved activity run by our passionate Hockey specialists.
Hosting competitive matches against other schools as well as numerous inter-house competitions, Hockey is thriving at SVS, with our teams regularly competing in county and regional finals.
Netball
Netball
As a partnership school of the Saracens Mavericks, Netball is a leading sport here at SVS, enjoyed on our indoor and outdoor Netball courts. We hold many coaching camps and seminars with expert Netball players and participate in numerous trips to watch England Netball teams in action – both to enjoy the sport but also to analyse the technique and gamification of the professionals.
Our specialist team of Netball coaches nurture our girls, to become skilful, agile players with the confidence to excel throughout their netballing journey. With various squads throughout the School, they play competitively against other schools as well as in inter-school fixtures to challenge and improve their Netball skills.
Rugby
Rugby
Being a partnership School of Saracens means that our Rugby programme is second-to-none. With specialist coaches and fantastic facilities, our students benefit from the School’s strong Rugby tradition. With several Old Suttonians going on to represent England across various age groups, we continue to offer real opportunities for our aspiring Rugby players to develop and excel.
From Under 12 level through to our 1st XV U18 students have the opportunity to compete against other schools in a packed programme of fixtures throughout the Michaelmas Term. In recent years, we have seen success throughout the age groups, most notably with our 1st XV reaching the NatWest Under 18 National Vase Final at Twickenham in both 2020 and 2022.
In addition to the core Rugby programme, we also compete at Rugby Sevens, entering a number of county and national competitions during the Lent Term.
Shooting
Shooting
Our School Shooting team, when not practising their shooting in the School’s designated Shooting Range, are competing in many competitions around the country. As part of their CCF sessions, and as an additional activity option, students learn the precise art of how to shoot, with staggering accuracy.
Swimming
Swimming
Making the most of our impressive on-site, six-lane heated swimming pool, our students can take advantage of the pool as part of their enrichment programme and they have the option to swim more competitively as part of our programme of galas against other schools during the Lent Term.
They receive the opportunity to train with professional Swimming coach, Claire Muller, to improve their technique and build their stamina. Whether recreationally or competitively, the pool is always a hive of excitement.
Tennis
Tennis
Benefitting from our talented in-house LTA-qualified coaches, Tennis is the perfect summer sport for our students. Available during free periods or as part of their enrichment programme, students can hone their Tennis skills, using the expertise of our coaches to maximise their potential.
We regularly enter the LTA Schools competition for various age group categories.
Specialist Sports
Cross Country
Cross Country
All students are welcome to represent the School at Cross Country if they compete outside of School and have a passion for the sport. We enter fixtures against other schools as well as various championships at district and county levels. Many of our students regularly gain county and regional recognition in the sport.
Equestrianism
Equestrianism
We are a member of the National Schools Equestrian Association and our riders regularly compete in a range of disciplines: dressage, showjumping and arena eventing. Having joined the NSEA in 2015, the School has already had junior and senior teams competing at the County Show Jumping Championships, Grass Roots Championships and the Annual National Championships.
The riders in the School Equestrian team have access to bespoke athletic conditioning sessions as part of the Talented Athlete Programme.
Football
Football
Football is a popular part of the sport and enrichment programme. Additionally, utilising our wonderful AstroTurf pitch, we are able to offer sessions after school during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. Training is led by our in-house FA-qualified coaches and a full fixture list for both 1st XI teams is arranged for the Lent Term.
Golf
Golf
We offer our students the opportunity to play Golf during the week at local courses, Chart Hills and The Ridge. Fixtures are played against other schools and our teams regularly enter competitions at county and regional level and, in recent years, we have been successful in qualifying for national finals.
Skiing
Skiing
Over the past few years, skiing has grown at SVS and our team enters races at county, regional and national levels. In recent seasons, we have had students selected for national Ski teams and international races, and a strong link has been developed with the International Ski Race Training Academy Apex 2100 which is based in Tignes, France.