“Pupils achieve high levels of success in a broad range of sporting pursuits, due to the high levels of support they receive and the many opportunities they have to participate in team sports.”
ISI Inspection Report
From an early age, children are taught about the importance of playing sport and activities in a balanced and enjoyable manner. All pupils are encouraged to give their best, regardless of their ability, to achieve both individual and team goals. We encourage excellence and promote participation.
Children are involved in sports-related activity every day, either during sports sessions, weekly PE lessons or as part of our SKILLS extra-curricular program. We also have morning and evening swimming squads, as well as after-school coaching sessions in our Indoor Cricket facility. We recognise that PE and Games complement and enhance a child’s educational experience and support both their physical and mental well-being.
In Pre-Prep, children are introduced to basic movement and dance, ball skills and a wide range of games; all helping to develop their coordination, balance and confidence. They are also introduced to all our major sports and swimming, with the PE lessons forming the foundation stage for their continued development when transferring to the prep school.
At Pinewood, we highly value team sports like rugby, hockey, netball, football, and cricket, focusing on skill development, teamwork, and making friends. In addition to these major sports, children can also participate in other activities such as tennis, swimming, fencing, riding, athletics, golf, and cross country, often competing in inter-school matches and events. Almost half of our teaching staff are involved in the games coaching program, many of whom have experience playing or coaching at representative levels.
The extensive grounds, playing fields and facilities allow the PE and Games department to offer the pupils a full and diverse range of sports and activities. Our two multi-use Astroturfs cater for hockey, netball and tennis, as well as circuit training and 5-a-side football. The well-maintained grass pitches are home to rugby, football, hockey, and cricket; we also have a nine-hole golf course, netball and tennis courts, a sports hall, an all year round indoor swimming pool, and athletics facilities, plus a notorious cross-country course!
Team sport is a major component at Pinewood. We regularly organise over 30 teams to compete in inter-schools fixtures every Wednesday (Tuesday for Lower School) and alternate Saturdays, as well as additional tournaments and festivals throughout the year. Every child has the opportunity to represent the school in matches on a regular basis and experience being part of a team in competitive circumstances. Importantly, though, children are taught to win with honour, lose with dignity.
Our fully refurbished and covered swimming pool provides the opportunity for all-year-round swimming from Nursery to Year 8. Two swimming teachers mean that every child is able to have fortnightly swimming lessons, as well as providing opportunities for weekly squad/club sessions for those children in Years 3-8 keen to progress and enjoy swimming. Boarders are also be able to make use of the swimming pool for recreation swimming in the evenings, as well as early morning sessions.
A unique event at Pinewood is the Rubber Legs Challenge, a tough mudder style team obstacle course. We are the only school that hosts this type of sporting activity as an inter-schools event, and all pupils in the prep school also compete in the annual inter-house competition. The emphasis is on teamwork rather than the race. The Rubber Legs Challenge is also open to parents and staff as an annual charity event, with over 70 parents participating in teams of six – perfectly epitomising our amazing parent community.
The Pinewood Extras is a social cricket team, consisting of parents, staff, adult Old Pinewoodians and other friends of the school.
We play a series of evening T20 games in the Summer Term against local schools, clubs and villages.
Pinewood enjoys its own riding teams and any child with their own pony can join the teams, which are co-ordinated by a current parent. Children compete in dressage, showjumping, cross-country and one-day events at all levels, together with ‘Jumping with Style’ classes.
Children and adults are designed to move, and our muscles need to work in order to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Pinewood works to instil this active lifestyle into our children from a young age, so that it becomes a habit later in life.
