Hereford Cathedral School

The School considers sport to be an important and major part of life in the Sixth Form.  There is a wide and varied range of sports options available on the Wednesday games afternoon.  The School has an excellent reputation for major games, full fixture lists and well organised coaching.

Athletics is one of the major summer sports for girls and is an option available to both girls and boys during the summer term.  All have the opportunity to train regularly and to compete in fixtures against other schools.  Students have successfully represented the District and County, competing at high levels in the Inter-Counties, English Schools, and Independent Schools Championships in London.

Cricket, a growing sport for the girls, is open to all age groups.  There is a weekly practice session and fixtures in the summer term, including the Wyeside Six-a-Side Invitation Tournament.

Cross Country is an option available during the winter terms.  All students can benefit from regular, structured training sessions.  The can participate in the West Mercia League and AA Championships; many have gained selection for District and County teams and have competed successfully at the English Schools Championships.

Hockey is the other main winter sport and is always a popular option, both for the serious players and those who wish to play just for fun.  The Wednesday afternoon games session is intended to be recreational, usually taking the form of a match, occasionally in mixed teams with the boys.  For those wishing to represent the School at Under 16, 1^st or 2^nd XI level there is a weekly practice at the Hereford Leisure Centre, and the School matches are played on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  The School has an extremely high success rate and won the County tournament at almost every level during the 2006/2007 season.  Many of our players have represented the County and play at club level.  There was a hockey an netball tour to Barbados in July 2006 and a junior tour to Malta in October 2007.

Netball is one of the two major winter sports for girls, and those in the senior squad are given the opportunity to play to a high standard against most of the top teams in the region.  There is one training session per week plus fixtures on Saturdays and some Wednesdays.  Strong emphasis is placed on personal development as a player, as well as team effectiveness.  Girls are encouraged to play both for the County and local league clubs.  At Wednesday afternoon Netball sessions, we aim for a balance between stretching the able and talented players and helping those who wish to play recreationally.  Senior Teams regularly qualify for the West Midlands Schools Netball Tournament.

Rounders is another summer sport offered to the girls, with a weekly practice session and regular fixtures throughout the term.  We have a number of girls each year who are selected for the England Rounders squad.

Rowing is available for oarsmen and women.  The School produces crews that row to a high standard and with small groups the chances to develop under an experienced coach are enormous.  Training sessions are based at Hereford Rowing Club and the School crews regularly attend regattas throughout the County and the region.

Tennis is the other major summer sport and is offered to all Sixth Form girls as a games option.  We have a regular fixture list against other schools for our first team.  The School also plays in mixed matches against other teams, which are always enjoyable and entertaining.  There are two school courts situated in the Bishop’s Palace gardens, which are available for practice.  We are also fortunate to have the use of four hard and five grass courts on the Bishop’s Meadow for tennis lessons and matches.

Other options available during the term are: Badminton, Swimming and Gym. We have just started football training sessions and matches for pupils in Year 11 to Upper Sixth Form.

We regard it as a strength that the girls can follow two major sports throughout the year.  They also have the opportunity to represent the School in other sports.  Rowing is available to both girls and boys to the same level – see above.  Climbing and Fencing are available throughout the year as part of the extra-curricular physical education programme.