Sporting Excellence at Rishworth
At Rishworth we have a phenomenal record for producing top class sports people. Currently at least 40 pupils represent club level, regional or national teams across a range of disciplines including: Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Dressage, Athletics, Swimming, Netball, Tennis, Dance, Football and Badminton. That's 10% of the whole school roll!
Our pupils are further supported by our sports department, who are able to offer additional strength and conditioning sessions, our catering department who are able to supply nutritious and healthy food and our teaching staff who support pupils who have to travel across the world to compete
The PE department is a thriving and successful department that not only excels in a wide range of sports but also caters for the demands of all standards of ability. The intention is to maintain and stimulate pupil interest and enjoyment in sports and to promote health and fitness for current and future lifestyles. It is also a major aim to develop a range of desirable personal qualities such as politeness, perseverance, initiative and independence which in turn build pupil self-esteem and physical self-confidence.
Competitive Sport
In addition to the curriculum-taught sports and the EE coaching programme, the PE Department runs an extremely comprehensive and challenging competitive fixture programme. Most academic years see us competing in well over 400 fixtures. All teams play on a friendly but competitive fixture list and in regional competitions and national championships. Both individually and collectively our successes are many and varied.
Sporting facilities
The school has its own swimming pool with an adjoining well-equipped modern fitness suite which overlooks the pool. There is a 4 badminton court modern Sports Hall with a newly refurbished strength and conditioning studio. Outside facilities include extensive grass pitches, with pavilion, for football and rugby and 3 tennis courts. We also have easy access to picturesque cricket pitches and hockey astro-turf pitches close by for training and matches.
Enrichment & Extension
A wide range of sporting and physical activity enrichment and extension activities are offered throughout the year; during lunch break and in Period 6 EE sessions as well as after school. These activities are very varied and include, for example, athletics, football, hockey, netball, badminton, rounders, rugby, swimming and tennis.
A full list of EE by term can be found here: EE Booklet
Touring Abroad
Since the 1996, when the rugby team toured South Africa, senior students at Rishworth have had the opportunity to play sport overseas. In 1998 thirty four boys toured the Southern hemisphere and 2000 saw a three-week visit to Canada. 2001 saw both hockey and netball teams travel to Barbados and in the summer of 2002 the boys toured Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. In 2004 we visited South Africa on our first overseas combined tour winning all but one of 16 hockey and rugby matches. In 2006 over 80 students toured South America playing in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. 2008 saw four teams going to Australia where they played 20 games and lost only 3. In 2010 the School hosted a touring hockey team from Chile whilst in 2012 a hockey, netball and rugby tour to Sri Lanka proved hugely successful. In 2015 we visited Canada and USA and South Africa in 2018. Due to Covid we were unable to tour Thailand and Malaysia as planned. Our next tour is our 300th Anniversary Tour to South Africa in 2024.
More details on our tours can be found here: Sport Tours
Sport Scholarship Programme
Scholarships are awarded on merit and represent a real accolade to successful candidates who must not only demonstrate a high level of ability but also future potential. For further information visit the Scholarships section on the website using the following link: Sport Scholarships Information