Sport at Vinehall plays a vital part of everyday life for a Vinehall pupil. We aim to provide a programme based on inclusivity, enjoyment and performance. We are focused on providing a broad and varied sporting experience for all our girls and boys.
Teams in all but the very youngest age groups compete most successfully in inter-school matches, which take place on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons with the occasional Saturday. Vinehall has an outstanding reputation for sporting excellence, winning medals almost every year at national IAPS events, and many pupils train and compete with county and regional squads.
We ensure that all children are given a chance to represent the school and this usually means there are at least two teams in each year group. Children in Years 3 and 4 are gradually introduced to playing competitive sport in friendly tournaments and matches with schools of similar size. This provides an opportunity for pupils to play in mixed ability teams without over-emphasising the importance of the final result.
There is a main sporting focus each term, with this being augmented by a varied PE curriculum. The pupils have lessons in swimming, basketball, gymnastics, badminton, volleyball, small sided games, tennis, golf, athletics and fitness testing. There are also a number of very popular sports activities that take place during and after school; these include cross country, gymnastics, dance, table tennis and multi-sports.
In the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, the main team games for boys are football, rugby and hockey, and for girls hockey and netball. In the Summer Term, boys and girls play cricket and tennis. Athletics, swimming and gymnastics are also important sports throughout the year, with the teams in these three sports having had great success at national level in recent times.
The pupils at Vinehall have the use of wonderful facilities.
The school has its own nine-hole golf course, extensive playing fields and a floodlit all-weather hockey pitch. There are also four tennis courts, two of which are floodlit, and six netball courts. There is also an indoor sports complex, which includes a sports hall, a gymnastics training hall and an indoor swimming pool. There are indoor cricket nets, as well as facilities for badminton, basketball and judo.
Several specialist coaches in gymnastics, swimming, judo, tennis and dance augment the school’s games-coaching staff.
Sport in Summary
Michaelmas Term
BOYS > Football, Rugby
GIRLS > Hockey, Netball
Lent Term
BOYS > Rugby, Hockey
GIRLS > Netball, Hockey
Summer Term
BOYS > Cricket, Athletics & Tennis
GIRLS > Cricket, Athletics & Tennis
