By: Katie Tassell |

Sport has always been an integral part of school life at Framlingham College so it was amazing to be shortlisted for the ISOTF Awards for sport. To celebrate how strong the sport is at Framlingham College, below we have attached our submission for the awards.

The school fundamentally believes in the development of the whole person and not just the examination candidate. Sport plays a vital role in this. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, it also has an impact on their emotional well-being, helping with stress and thereby improving their academic and overall school performance. Playing sport introduces them to teamwork, discipline, improves their confidence and develops leadership skills. Through matches they learn to be resilient in the face of adversity and gives them grit and determination, two life skills that are invaluable.

However, while we encourage and fully support elite performers, our focus is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in sport, enjoy it and realise their potential.

At the Prep School, our new #allin initiative is extremely rare. At the beginning of 2018 the school made it their mission to ensure every child in Year 3 – 8 (currently 238 pupils) played in a competitive fixture every week – not an easy feat. This can mean up to 28 teams, 5 opposing schools on the same day, up to 250 match teas and a lot of ground logistics to organise! But it means a lot to represent your school, wear the shirt and eat the match tea. The buzz of playing, the camaraderie, the tension, the disappointment and the elation is the same for the D team as it is for the A. The pride for each and every child on a Wednesday afternoon is tangible and with such an initiative the school builds on their resilience and self-esteem.

Alongside the #allin initiative Framlingham College is also heavily committed to competing at the highest level and providing the best environment for the talented young athletes to help achieve their full sporting ambition whilst realising their full academic potential. The school has always had an outstanding sporting reputation in the County. However over the last two academic years, Framlingham has firmly made its mark in the East Region and nationally. With high calibre sports coaches delivering quality coaching together with the will and dedication of the students, Framlingham College is not just competing with the big boys but it really belong there.

County Titles currently held include 5 for Hockey (Girls’ U11, U13, U16, U18 (7th time in a row) , Boys’ U14), 6 for tennis (U8 ) 2 for Golf (U13 and Suffolk Schools’ Open Championship), 2 for Cricket (Girls’ U11, Boys’ U14), 1 for Cross Country (Girls’ U20) and 6 for Athletics (U15 Shot Put, High Jump, Discus, U12 Hurdles, Discus and Shot Put)

63 students are currently in county squads for cricket, rugby, athletics. Hockey. Netball , swimming and tennis.

Regional Success this year includes U11 Girls Hockey being crowned IAPS East of England Champions in 2018/2019 and the U13 Boys coming 2nd. In the In2Hockey East of England Finals the U13 Girls came 5th, the U11 Girls came 3rd mirroring the U14 boys in 2017/2018. The U11 Boys’ came 3rd at the IAPS Rugby East of England Finals and the U11 Girls were 2nd in the IAPS Cricket East of England Finals.

14 students are affiliated to Northants Saints Rugby Academy Programme, 2 to Essex and Northants CC Elite Player Programmes.

On a National scale Framlingham achieved the following:

Hockey:

U18 Girls’ 1st:

Silver Medal at Indoor National Finals (17/18)

4th in National Outdoor Championships in 17/18.

National Indoor Finalists 18/19

Quarter- Finalists in National Cup in 18/19

U14 Girls’ – National Finalists in 17/18

U13 Girls’ – IAPS National Champions 2018/2019 and 5th in 17/18

U13 Boys’ – 6th in IAPS Nationals Finals (18/19) and National Finalist (17/18)

U11 Girls’ – IAPS National Finalists 18/19