Sport
Sport is an important part of life at Leweston and the school has an excellent reputation at a local, national and international level.
The school takes great pride in its inclusive approach and all pupils are encouraged to pursue any sport that interests them. They are given support to develop and achieve to the best of their ability and compete at the level of competition that they aspire to. The programme is designed to promote positive attitudes to physical, mental and emotional health which will remain with pupils for the rest of their lives.
Pupils from Reception to Prep 6 follow a carefully structured programme of PE, Games and weekly swimming lessons. This aims to develop pupils’ physical skills and fitness as well as their knowledge of the physical, mental and social benefits of exercise.
Sixth Formers have an afternoon of sport a week and many continue to compete for the school. Students choose their own programme from a range of competitive and recreational sports. In addition to timetabled games Sixth Formers can use the gym equipment during their free time.
Our Sports
All of the mainstream team sports are taught as part of the curriculum, along with a wide variety of individual disciplines. Girls and Boys Hockey, Netball and Tennis are well represented with pupils are regularly selected for District, County and Regional development centres. The school is part of the Bath Rugby Development Programme and regularly hosts workshops, training sessions and residential camps for new and aspiring players. Leweston also dominates the Cross-Country circuit at County and Regional level. The fine tradition of distance running at the school also translates to the athletics track and many of our athletes compete at the National Athletics Finals. Similarly, there is an extensive swimming programme with regular coached swim sessions throughout the week catering for beginners and elite performers alike. Trampolining, and gymnastics are also offered in Years 7 to 9.
There are additional sporting opportunities via the activities programme which regularly provides fencing, shooting, running, strength and conditioning and development swimming options in addition to other opportunities on rotation. Recent activities have included cricket, sailing, yoga, zumba and badminton.
Hockey
Boys' and Girls' Hockey are played from Prep 2 through to Sixth Form with weekly fixtures for all age groups often with A, B and C teams competing against schools from across the South-West. Teams regularly qualify for County and Regional competitions.
Netball
Netball is played throughout the Prep and Senior Schools with success at County and Regional levels. Senior squads enter into the National Cup.
Rugby
Boys and girls play tag rugby in Pre-Prep. Boys then develop their skills throughout the Prep with fixtures against local schools. Competitive rugby is played throughout the Senior School and the school is part of the Bath Rugby Development Programme.
Tennis
Individual tennis coaching is offered throughout the year for both Prep and Senior Pupils. Tennis playing as a curriculum sport in the summer term with fixtures for all ages.
Cross Country
Leweston has a formidable reputation in cross-country. Boys and girls regularly qualify for the ESAA Southwest Regionals and National Finals.
Athletics
Athletics features in the summer term for both Prep and Senior pupils.
Swimming
There are weekly lessons in the Prep and fortnightly ones in Years 7 and 8. Pupils of all ages access development and performance squad training. The school are current North Dorset Champions.
Equestrian
Leweston is a serious equestrian competitor in equestrian sport and pupils of all ages compete at NSEA events. In 2022 the school won the National Schools Equestrian Association Regional Points League for the sixth year in a row.
Pentathlon
As one of only nine GB Pentathlon Training Hubs in the UK, Leweston offers coaching in all aspects of Modern Pentathlon: running, swimming, fencing, shooting and OCR.
Performance Programme
Those pupils with top flight sporting ambitions are supported by specialist teachers and coaches. Each major sport has a lead coach with links to the relevant National body, some of whom are part of the National coaching team or have international experience. Teachers and coaches develop individualised ability-based training programmes to fit around pupils’ busy commitments. They also provide wider mentoring and advice on fitness, diet and more. Elite athletes regularly compete at regional, national and international competitions with the Pentathlon programme providing a significant number of the members of Team GB.
Sport Scholarships
Sport Scholarships
Leweston offers Sports scholarships at Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form entry. Candidates are expected to offer at least one of the major sports to preferably County standard or above. Scholars are expected to show outstanding ability and potential, demonstrate a good level of fitness and be able to play as part of a team. They are expected to take part in sports activities with total commitment and enthusiasm.
Our Facilities
Leweston's excellent sports facilities are aided by the acres of grounds in which the school sits. There is an all-weather hockey pitch which also provides nine tennis courts in the summer, a sports hall which acts as both an indoor netball and hockey court, and provides four badminton courts as well as a conditioning suite and a range of Technogym cardo-vascular equipment.
Other facilities include; six netball courts, six hard surface tennis courts, rugby pitch, a 25m heated indoor swimming pool, 300m grass track and synthetic long jump.