8 January 2024
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It has been an extremely busy term at Kirkham Grammar School with our pupils experiencing much success in a variety of sports.
Senior School & Sixth Form Girls’ Sport
The 1st XI hockey girls (pictured top of page) continue with their campaign within the England Hockey Tier 1 National Competition where they continue to compete against the best in the country. They are also down to the last 12 within the National Independent Schools Cup.
The 2nd XI have reached the last 12 of the England Hockey Tier 2 Competition (North) whilst the U14s are through to the last 12 in the country where they will take on Repton School in the next round.
In the National Independent Schools Hockey Cup, the U13 squad are through to the quarter finals where they will meet RGS Newcastle to fight for a place at the 2023/24 National Hockey Finals.
Our U15 squad await their next National Plate fixture against Queen Margaret’s School, York in the new year.
In netball, the U12, U13 and U14 squads have performed well in their first season of involvement in the National Schools Netball Cup.
The U14 squad continue their journey in the National Quarter Finals where they will meet The Grammar School at Leeds following on from their victory against South Hunsley School, Huddersfield.
In cross country, the U13 squad took away silver medals at the Sedbergh Prep Invitational Event and at the Stonyhurst annual event.
Congratulations to Anya Jackson who has secured selection into the England U18 Squad for the 2023/24 season.
Senior School & Sixth Form Boys’ Sport
The senior rugby team started on a really positive note with three days training in Keswick and Penrith. It was a good opportunity for new friendships to be made and some quality time to focus on the season ahead.
In September and October, the 1st XV had strong wins against Llandrillo College, Methodist College Belfast, Lancaster Grammar School and Finborough College. Whilst our U18A performed extremely well, beating Wirral, St Ambrose and Manchester Grammar 1st XVs.
The 2nd XV were also building nicely, picking up victories against Wirral, Queen Ethelburgas and Lancaster Grammar School.
This fantastic start to the season made the squad selection for the prestigious St Joseph's Festival all the more difficult, with many players showing great potential.
In the last week before half term, a 26 strong squad (pictured left) travelled to Ipswich to take part in the toughest tournament in the country. They topped the group in day one beating RGS High Wycombe, Wellington College and Cheltenham College. On day two they beat Trinity in the quarter-finals, beat Millfield on penalty kicks in the semi-final and then triumphed over RGS High Wycombe following an epic battle in the final. Who will ever forget those last two minutes when Ollie Davies kicked the drop goal to take the title.
After half term, the 1st XV travelled to Belfast to take on Ballymena Academy, one of the strongest sides in Northern Ireland this year. In a physical encounter, Kirkham performed well to secure a hard fought victory.
The 1st XV have also been having a good run in the Continental Tyres UK National Schools Cup. Kirkham Grammar School had a bye in round one, beat QEGS Wakefield in round 2, Kings School Macclesfield in round 3 and then most recently beat Woodhouse Grove in the quarter-finals. The squad will travel to Aylesbury Rugby Club in March to face Bromsgrove School in the semi-finals.
Captain, Seb Kelly, and Vice Captain, Ollie Davies, have been involved with England U18 training camps and many of the senior players are involved in the Sale Sharks academy team that play their league games in January and February.
Junior, Infant and Pre-School Sport
At Kirkham Grammar Junior, Infant and Pre School, the pupils have certainly had a busy Autumn term experiencing a variety of sports, all enhancing their overall physical health. Through these experiences, our pupils have each developed their teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership skills. The Junior and Infant pupils have been exposed to an impressive number of sporting opportunities through their PE curriculum, co-curricular clubs, sporting events and fixtures.
Our breakfast club sporting provision has been ever popular, with nearly 60 pupils from I2 to J4 pupils attending weekly hockey sessions at 7.50 am! The introduction of our new Coasters Girls’ football session, delivered in partnership with AFC Fylde, has proved a particular highlight of the morning clubs too. Our mission continues to be to help every child to develop a lifelong love of sport and physical activity through exposing them to a range of sporting opportunities; they have all found something that they enjoy! The pupils have had the opportunity to represent school in rugby, football, hockey and netball during the last 5 months.
We hosted our annual hockey festival at the Senior School (pictured left), which was a terrific morning of hockey in the lovely sunshine. This event saw our I2 and I3 infants and J1 and J2 junior pupils in action. The pupils attended the event with super sprit and a palpable enthusiasm for hockey. The infant pupils worked hard completing training drills to develop basic stick skills, and finished off with some mini hockey games against each other in a friendly round robin format. Whilst our junior pupils formed three teams, completing training drills focussing on ball control and game play. The three teams took to the field against Preston Hockey Club in some fun and high energy training games. It was a fabulous opportunity for all our young hockey players to train and experience game situations in a fun and enjoyable environment.
Pupils from across J1 to J4 (pictured right) performed at The Wyre and Fylde School Sports Partnership Dance Festival. The event beautifully showcased an array of wonderfully talented, creative and energetic young people interpreting the theme of ‘Heroes & Heroines’. We were in awe of the superbly choreographed, polished, and engaging dance piece that our pupils so aptly pulled off. The enthusiasm and delight that they emanated as they performed was palpable. A brilliant example of how determination, effort and commitment, working with a range of people can have such a magical outcome.
All our junior pupils learn swimming and water safety throughout the academic year. Swimming is an important life skill, which our junior pupils partake in on a rota, swimming in weekly blocks to ensure inclusive and effective swimming lessons are delivered. We aim to develop confident and competent swimmers through fun and engaging lessons. From this comes a greater enjoyment of swimming, a love for swimming and being in the water, and the skills and motivation required to lead a healthy and active lifestyle through to their adult life.
Our major house competition in the Autumn Term was the House Cross Country. This event took place towards the end of September, in difficult conditions, and the pupils showed tremendous resilience and determination to complete the course in the wind and rain. All junior pupils take part in this competition, which evokes a real sense of House pride and team spirit amongst them, spurring them on to do their best. Once again the event was a great success amongst the pupils and they were incredibly proud of themselves and each other as they crossed the finish line. After tallying up the points, from each year group, the results were:
1st Fylde
2nd School
3rd Kirkham
4th Preston
Thank you to all the pupils and coaching staff for their efforts this term. It has certainly been one to remember!