Here at OHS, we are immensely proud of our strong performance in competitive fixtures across not only core sports such as hockey and netball, but also in football, swimming, tennis, squash, ice skating and even chess. At the same time, we are also fiercely proud of the way in which our PE & Sports Department expertly balances the ambition of our high-flying sportswomen with an emphasis on participation, inclusivity and having a go.
The PE & Sports’ programme at OHS encompasses three core platforms: Curriculum PE, Co-Curricular Sport and Sports Leadership, including our participation in the prestigious Sports Leadership and Girls’ on the Ball Programmes.
Curriculum Sport
Curriculum Sport places a strong emphasis on competition, balance and participation. In the lower school this means participating in a tailored programme of core sports with additional opportunities to try newly introduced sports such as health-related fitness, cricket and strength & conditioning. For older girls, the focus is upon individual choice and self-led learning as a means of optimising health and wellbeing, and here the additional opportunities for girls include not only trying out new sports but also assisting in coaching and umpiring younger students.
Co-Curricular Sport
OHS is proud to field a range of highly competitive teams. We regularly compete in county, regional and national competitions in netball, hockey, football, equestrian, swimming, badminton, cross country, tennis, athletics and cricket. We also enter GDST rallies for a range of sports including the traditional team games and more specialised activities such as gymnastics, dance and golf. Training takes place on a weekly basis and selection for school fixtures is based upon ability, commitment and attitude.
Beyond our packed calendar of fixtures, we also encourage all students to develop their sporting repertoire by building on skills learnt within the curriculum through competitions, clubs and trying out new sports. We constantly look to enrich our range of sporting opportunities and our provision includes everything from rowing with the Hinksey Sculling School, to sailing, Zumba, Crossfit, football in partnership with the Oxfordshire FA, Tag Rugby, trampolining and cricket.
Sports Leadership
The Sports Leadership programme is a popular initiative that sees many OHS girls work towards their Level 2 Award in Community Sports Leadership. This nationally recognised qualification teaches leadership skills such as organisation, planning, communication and teamwork through the medium of sport. A fun and practical qualification with no entrance requirements or final examinations to sit, it nonetheless entitles successful applicants to lead groups in sport and other outdoor activities under indirect supervision.
Girls at OHS can also boost their sports leadership credentials by contributing towards our Girls on the Ball community partnership. Led by OHS with the support of Summertown Stars football club and the GDST, and bringing together over 200 students from 25 independent and state primary schools, this initiative offers OHS students diverse coaching and refereeing experience in football, hockey and netball, with the option to pursue refereeing qualifications under the expert tutelage of our UEFA-B trained coach.
Facilities
Our facilities include a 25 metre, six-lane indoor swimming pool, a large sports hall, four outdoor netball and tennis courts, extensive fields that include 3 football pitches in the winter and a 400m athletics track plus two cricket pitches in the summer. We also regularly use the AstroTurf pitches at Oxford Hawks Hockey Club and the Ferry Centre fitness suite.
