Sport for all

Our 'sport for all' policy shapes how we approach sport in our Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form. Encouraging every girl to lead a healthy lifestyle is an integral part of our commitment to supporting pupil happiness and well-being.

Physical Education (PE) lessons and extra-curricular sports are a popular and important part of life at St Mary's, with an emphasis on students participating in a way that reflects individual abilities and choices. Girls pursue sports they are passionate about, supported by specialist teachers, and our elite sportswomen regularly compete at county and national level.

Sport and girls

Reframing Sport a 2019 research report from UK charity, Women in Sport highlights the critical relationship between sport and self-worth, confidence and body image in young girls. The key principles of Reframing Sport are integrated with our overall approach to sport:

8 Principles of Success - Sport at St Mary's

1. No judgement – we take the pressure off performance, with plenty of opportunities to play and enjoy activities such as boxercise, dance, gymnastics and Zumba.
2. Invoking excitement – by offering a diverse choice of sports and activities, there is a sense of adventure at every stage - there is always more to discover!
3. Clear emotional reward – sporting achievements are 'moments of pride' not just winning. Of course, everyone enjoys the feeling of winning a hockey match or a relay race, but there are also moments of pride to be found when we don't win. Achieving a personal best; a successful pass between players; seamless teamwork and support; the buzz of helping secure a goal. These are all moments to be proud of.
4. Opening eyes to what’s there – here sport is much more than just PE lessons. We open up multiple team sports and solo pursuits that girls can enjoy throughout life. Our popular Zumba, netball and running clubs are great examples of enjoying sport beyond the curriculum.
5. Building existing habits – through less 'traditional' sports such as yoga and dance, we build sport into existing habits.
6. Giving girls a voice and choice – we believe that #YesSheCan at St Mary’s and this empowering approach ensures every girl can live her best life by taking part in a sport they enjoy.
7. Championing what’s in it – sport is about more than just health. It’s about developing invaluable life skills, such as motivation, leadership and teamwork skills, and building relationships and making great friends in the process!
8. Expanding the image of ‘sporty’ – we are lucky to have so many great role models in our teaching community who inspire girls to take part in sport and to aim high.

More about Reframing Sport