Boys' Sport

Central to our sporting program is a team sports ethos. Boys play full seasons of Rugby, Hockey and Cricket, alongside Athletics, Cross Country, Swimming and Rugby 7s. Each year the school fields 75 teams ranging from 1st XV to U8 levels with B and C teams being fielded in each age group whenever possible, playing over 800 fixtures against other Independent schools from Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire.

Competition is embraced by pupils of all ages and abilities and encourages team awareness and teaches the importance of winning without arrogance and losing with good grace.

The School is blessed with very good sporting facilities; Blaxton Sports Grounds provide 25 acres of sports pitches, including 2 excellent cricket squares, 4 rugby pitches and 3 football pitches.

The Paver hockey pitch has provided an excellent astroturf surface at the school. The school has its own high performance centre, which houses 3 Olympic lifting platforms, a sprint track and numerous pieces of functional training equipment.

Many of our pupils play representative sport at County, Regional and National level. A number of our pupils are part of academy programs in various sports. We have excellent links with regional academies and ensure that our pupils sporting, academic and social development is well catered for.

We run a successful scholarship programme for outstanding sportspeople and sports tours occur on a regular basis, including recent visits for Rugby and Hockey to Holland, Portugal, France, Italy, Canada and South Africa.

BOYS SPORTS AT HILL HOUSE

RUGBY

The school’s rugby programme runs throughout the school and is the major sport for the boys in the Michaelmas term. The rugby club currently run 21 teams from U8 up to 1^st XV. We start with ‘Rugger Eds’ for ages 4-7 years through to playing competitive matches for all children aged 7 and above against schools from all over the North of England. We enter the Natwest Cup every year at both U15s and U18s and play a competitive sevens program throughout the Spring Term which culminates in several year groups going to the world renowned Rosslyn Park Sevens tournament.

Whilst excellence is pursued for those with talent and has led to many pupils achieving county and academy level status, the aim is to cater for every pupil at their own level of ability and enthusiasm. The school is fortunate to have a wealth of coaching experience which includes two RFU| Level 3 coaches.

We run a successful scholarship programme for outstanding sportspeople and sports tours occur on a regular basis, including recent visits to Portugal, France, Italy, Canada and South Africa.

HOCKEY

Hockey is the major sport at Hill House for Girls in the Michaelmas Term and for Boys in the Lent Term. Last season over 350 pupils represented the school on Hockey pitches throughout the North of England.

The Paver Hockey pitch opened in September 2015 is finished to a very high specification. The new pitch brought great excitement for pupils and staff, who could not wait to play on it. The coaching at Hill House School is of a high standard, with many of the academic staff (some of whom have international honours) contributing alongside professional coaches. Pupils have benefited from coaching sessions from GB internationals Imran Sherwani, Ollie Willars and Chloe Rodgers.

The School currently runs 34 teams, from 1st XI to Under 9 C team level, encouraging all girls and boys to enjoy and develop in the sport. Fixtures tend to take place during games afternoons and after school, and the teams also have two training sessions a week.

Hill House School has been host to the County round of the U11, U13, U14 and U16 tournaments and also hosted the U13 North West regional final of the England hockey IN2 Hockey Tournament. The school is county champion at most age groups.

Hill House has embarked on a number of international Hockey tours to Holland, Canada and South Africa. The tours are designed specifically to provide not only a high level of Hockey but also a range of educational and cultural experiences.

A number of players at the school have gone onto play representative hockey through the England Hockey single system pathway at county, regional and national levels.

CRICKET

Cricket is the major sport at Hill House for Boys in the Summer Term. The School currently runs 17 teams, from 1st XI to Under 9 C team level, Fixtures tend to take place during games afternoons and after school against other Independent schools from across the region.

Home fixtures are played at the schools Blaxton Sports Ground, which boasts two, eight wicket squares that are kept in excellent condition by the school’s well qualified grounds staff, whilst at school there are nets and an artificial wicket available for coaching sessions.

All teams benefit from an additional two coaching sessions each week, which are led by a team of well qualified cricket coaches with many academic staff also contributing their knowledge and expertise.

A number of players at the school have gone on to play representative cricket for South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire at various age group levels. The school can also boast former England spin bowler Richard Dawson amongst its former pupils.

HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTRE

The school’s High Performance Centre caters for the development of all aspiring athletes within the school. We have a specialist strength and conditioning coach programming and leading sessions based around Fundamental Movement Skills for the younger year groups right through to Olympic lifting and strength training for the senior pupils.

Pupils using the High Performance Centre have varying programs depending on their physical maturation and sporting goals, whether it is improved strength, body composition, speed or aerobic capacity. Our facilities can accommodate each child’s individual development in a safe and controlled environment.

ETHOS

Hill House School seeks to promote a positive, lifelong approach to sport through the provision of a wide choice of activities and the development of excellence in those who choose to pursue an activity to a higher level. This is reflected in the department’s philosophy, ‘Enthuse, inspire and provide the opportunity to excel’
Sport is a fantastic way to develop lifelong skills both on and off the sports field. Participating in sport enables you to learn about yourself and others around you especially when under pressure, and also the opportunity to contribute to a team engenders a sense of identity and pride in the school.
Excellent coaching and teaching is fundamental to developing sportsmen and women. At Hill House we strive to develop players' skills, creativity and understanding to as high a level as possible.

Facilities

The School is lucky to have very good sporting facilities, Blaxton Sports Ground provides 25 acres of sports pitches, including 2 excellent cricket squares, 4 rugby pitches and 3 football pitches.

The Paver hockey pitch has provided an excellent astroturf surface at the school, which doubles as 9 full size floodlight tennis courts in the summer term.

The school also has its own high performance centre, which houses 3 Olympic lifting platforms, a sprint track and numerous piece of functional training equipment.

Scholarships

Hill House offers Sports Scholarships from age 11 and Leadership Scholarships through sport are available at Sixth Form. Hill House provides the opportunity to combine an excellent education up to A Level with a tailored, high performance sports program. Successful sports scholarship candidates will get fee remissions together with a year round training programme.

Year round training programme

Specific skills and team training three times a week
High level coaching
Additional strength and conditioning training
Competitive fixtures in all major sports

Scholarship applicants
Scholarship applicants should be of Regional/County level and above. Bursaries are also available to augment the value of any scholarship award, subject to means-testing.

Staff

Games and Physical Education lessons are taught by our 9 fully qualified and highly experienced P.E. specialists many of whom have a particular strength in their chosen sport, including having played international sport. In addition, other teaching staff with excellent coaching credentials also teach games and take teams where appropriate. All these are supplemented by a team of external professional coaches.

Hill House School