Sport


Sport plays a significant part in life at St Margaret’s. We believe that it is important to play to win, but additionally teamwork, losing with good grace, the development of self-esteem, social skills, healthy living, and ultimately having fun are all equally vital.

Teaching children to be ‘sporting’ is one of our main aims. We want every child to leave us having enjoyed their experience of many different games, whilst developing the skills necessary to appreciate the value of ‘sport for life’. We develop not only sporting ability, but also a positive attitude towards sport.
 
The school employs specialist sports staff for both boys and girls, enabling the children to receive expert tuition in rugby, netball, hockey, swimming, football, cricket, athletics and climbing as part of the curriculum. A comprehensive extra-curricular activity programme offers the opportunity to further develop skills in these sports. Several peripatetic coaches and tutors also visit the school to teach martial arts, cross-country, ballet and yoga. The St Mary’s Calne Tennis Academy (SMCTA) provides professional group coaching to pupils from Reception and above, no matter what their ability.

"The pupils achieve great success in sport with individual and team successes in local, county and national competitions."

ISI Inspection Report


Facilities

Consequently, our children benefit from a wide range of facilities not always available to children of prep school age. These include a 25m indoor swimming pool which boasts 6 lanes and is used to host local, regional and national competitions. We have both on-site and off-site sports pitches, a well-equipped sports hall with cricket nets and a clmbing wall and eight netball courts. Additionally, an all-weather Astro pitch, which has been engineered to National League Hockey standards, provides a year-round surface for hockey and tennis.

The most recent addition to the outstanding facilities on offer is the climbing wall which provides 110sq metres of high-quality climbing. A combination of vertical walls, overhanging faces, grooves and ribs provide a challenging and varied three-dimensional climbing surface, designed to appeal to climbers across a breadth of abilities. The wall has been designed to suit children from 4 years and includes a wide variety of routes to explore, ranging from beginner to advanced climbers.
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Fixtures

St Margaret's has a comprehensive fixtures calendar and children in our Prep Department enjoy competing with schools in Bath and Wiltshire. 

Festivals give us the opportunity to travel further afield. We encourage competition at all levels, whether this is on a local, regional or national basis. In addition to the regular inter-school fixtures programme, we provide enrichment opportunities for participation in school competitions in swimming, biathlon, cross-country and golf. St Margaret’s also enters regional and national competitions through the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools and Pentathlon GB, where our children have the opportunity to compete at a high level.
 
 

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Pre-Prep

In order for our children to compete successfully, they need to be given a solid foundation and expert tuition.

Children in Prep-Prep (3 to 7 years) receive specialist tuition in the major sports to build this foundation.

AUTUMN SPRING SUMMER
Football Rugby Cricket
Hockey Netball Athletics
Climbing Gymnastics Swimming
Swimming Swimming Tennis
Act

Prep

In the Prep Department (8-11 years), we build on the skills developed in Pre-Prep.

Lessons are split between boys and girls for certain disciplines, however, mixed lessons are also taught.

BOYS

AUTUMN SPRING SUMMER
Rugby Hockey Cricket
Climbing Health Related Fitness Athletics
Gymnastics Swimming Tennis
Swimming   Swimming
 


GIRLS

AUTUMN SPRING SUMMER
Hockey Netball Cricket
Climbing Health Related Fitness Athletics
Gymnastics Swimming Tennis
Swimming   Swimming
 
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St Mary's Sports Club

All our pupils automatically become members of the St Mary's Sports Club and have access to the swimming pool and other facilities. 

St Margaret's parents may also become members and access the various fitness and wellbeing classes including Yoga, Pilates, Circuits, Zumba and various swimming programmes. Significantly reduced joining fees and membership discounts are available.

ST MARY'S CALNE SPORTS CLUB

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Watch our video for a 'Behind the Scenes' look at Sport!