The passion for sport often results in our children achieving sport at the highest level. As a school, we attend a variety of regional and national competitions each year including the IAPS and English Schools championships, most recently in Cross Country, Hockey, Swimming, Athletics and Triathlon. Our fixture list is extensive as we aim to challenge the children at every level. Pupils have gone on to receive representative honours in their chosen sports and many have achieved scholarships at their future Senior Schools; Harrow, Sedbergh, Rugby, Uppingham, Fettes, Shrewsbury, Ampleforth, Merchiston Castle and Barnard Castle to name a few over previous years.
Although it is always rewarding to win matches, this is not the ultimate aim. We want the children to be tested and challenged at the highest possible level for their age. Using rugby as an example, we play against the strongest schools possible and travel to Millfield for their U13 and U12 rugby VIIs tournaments as well as to Rosslyn Park. In cricket, we have been named in the top 50 Prep Schools in the Country as published in ‘The Cricketer’ magazines over the past few years. We test ourselves on our Northern circuit as well as in the south against schools such as Caldicott and Summer Fields (on annual tour). We also enter IAPS tournaments and host the Yorkshire round for the ESCA national tournament on our outstanding cricket pitches. Whatever the sporting activity, we strive for excellence and many of our current and previous students have gone on to represent their counties and beyond.
Our state-of-the-art sports hall was opened in 2015 by Olympian and Old Aysgarthian, Sir Matthew Pinsent and provides a fantastic indoor facility for tennis and cricket nets, as well as climbing and gymnastics. Furthermore, the indoor pool and astroturf are surrounded by 5 cricket pitches, 8 rugby pitches and 9 football pitches, not to mention our 3-hole golf course and shooting range!
Facilities, excellent coaching, supportive parents and enthusiastic and determined children: the recipe for sporting success at Aysgarth!
