SPORT AT ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

A school sports programme second
to none

Sporting excellence and sport for all

Our mission is to nurture a growth mindset, collaboration and resilience through the medium of sport and physical education for girls and boys of all ages and abilities.

The Latin motto of St Joseph’s College, Fides, Labore et Tenacitate (Faith, Hard Work and Tenacity), provides the foundation on which we will maintain and further develop excellence in sport and physical education throughout the school.  

Sport is a fundamental strand within the fabric of College life. We are proud of our traditions and pedigree but will never be bound by the past. What excites us most is our commitment to innovation, to standing apart from the crowd whilst always respecting what sport and physical education mean at their core to our students, staff, families and the wider community.

As stated by our Director of Sport, our mission has always been to ensure that our students have equal opportunities regardless of their gender and that equally high expectations should be placed upon them from within the Sports faculty and wider school community. 

St Joseph’s College has been at the forefront of an evolving gender-blind provision. In recent years this has seen, for the first time in our history, national trophies, professional contracts and an aspirational culture for female students on a par with those of the males. 

Sport in the Prep School

A thriving Prep school sports programme providing a foundation for a through-College of sporting excellence. Delivered within our exceptional facilities, this broad and balanced programme encourages a lasting love of sport for a healthy and happier life.

Our mission is to nurture a growth mindset, collaboration and resilience through the medium of sport and physical education for girls and boys of all ages and abilities. We are proud of our sporting heritage as one of the leading private schools for sport and we are determined to build on this legacy.

Sport is a fundamental strand within the fabric of College life. We are proud of our traditions and pedigree but will never be bound by the past. What excites us most is our commitment to innovation, to standing apart from the crowd whilst always respecting what sport and physical education mean at their core to our students, staff, families and the wider community. 

St Joseph’s College has been at the forefront of an evolving gender-blind provision. In recent years this has seen, for the first time in our history, national trophies, professional contracts and an aspirational culture for female students on a par with those of the males. 

We take pride in our distinctive sporting offer and provide the very best environment to support our students as they mature both as athletes and young people. We are confident that a simultaneous focus on individual development and results will generate the very best opportunities for all students to fulfil their potential. 

 

Senior School

Commitment to sport of all kinds is a hallmark of life at St Joseph’s College. As a centre for competitive sports we have a national reputation, enhanced by a multi-million-pound investment in pitches and other facilities.

Beside participating in our performance sports of Rugby, Football, Netball and Cricket, students of all abilities have access to disciplines as diverse as trampoline, badminton, squash, table tennis, athletics and gymnastics.

A significant number of girls and boys are county-level players, and a proportion go on to achieve national recognition. Our highly-qualified training staff includes former professional athletes and our Strength and Conditioning specialists ensure every student proceeds at the appropriate level. There are inter-school fixtures for all ages and periodic international sports. We host important rugby, netball and cricket festivals.

We are proud to be one of only two Independent boarding schools in the country accredited with Sport England’s TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) dual career status and of our relationships with professional sports partners.

 

Sixth Form

Our Sixth Formers benefit hugely from the flexibility we build into our academic programme. That flexibility is also offered to our student athletes and it means we are able to support and nurture their individual goals.

By the time they reach 16-years-of-age, students have typically refined their sporting focus down to one or maybe two priority sports. That natural narrowing of focus is matched at St Joseph’s College with an unapologetic drive towards sporting excellence, including the pursuit of professional sport as a dual career degree at a top sporting university.

 We are immensely proud of our student athletes, who, on the cusp of adulthood, are outstanding role models and a shining inspiration to the younger students.

Not every Sixth Former is on a performance sport path, but all are encouraged to continue pursuing PE and games as a route to health and well-being and an unbeatable source of relaxation at what can be a challenging time for students. On Wednesday afternoons those students not engaged in performance sport are able to access our market leading fitness suit.

 

Sport at St Joseph’s – Rugby

Rugby is synonymous with St Joseph’s College. We are proud of the part the game plays in uniting the community of the College, and celebrate a rugby programme that has developed more than 20 professional players in the past decade alone. That puts St Jo’s amongst the best independent rugby schools across the UK and Europe.

Hosting the annual National Schools Rugby Festival has cemented St Joseph’s place at the centre of school rugby since 1986. The festival has now become one of the most prestigious schoolboy rugby tournaments in Europe, has been dubbed ‘the king-maker’ by the national press, and has seen some of rugby’s biggest stars grace the St Joseph’s College pitches.

Our vision for rugby is underpinned by our ability to deliver a comprehensive programme for all, balancing the aspirational development of our talented players alongside promoting the core values of the game that makes it so accessible to all.

St Joseph’s College boasts enviable provision for developing rugby players, including state- of-the-art pitches, strength and conditioning gymnasium, performance analysis suites and a new combat conditioning facility. The programme is delivered and directed by Rowland Winter, who is supported by a team of coaches and support staff who have coached and played at the highest levels of the game and have achieved continued success within the world of rugby development.

 

Sport at St Joseph’s – Football

We might have once been widely acclaimed only for our outstanding rugby provision, but these days we love and embrace the beautiful game too! St Joseph’s College is dedicated to providing a supportive and holistic environment for its footballers – male and female – as they progress and excel on their dual career pathways. Our goal is to cultivate and support the next generation of outstanding footballers in the East region by providing a thriving performance environment that nurtures individual growth and development.

With a focus not solely on results but also encompassing the individual journey of each student, we offer unrivalled opportunities for students striving to achieve their personal and athletic potential. We encourage players to participate in representative and academy football when selected, and make allowances to balance training and playing exposure in support of these endeavours.

St Jo’s has strong links with university football programmes, including Loughborough and Essex, and with United States’ institutions awarding sports scholarships.

Our dedicated coaching professionals provide a supportive environment for girls and boys as they mature and grow in athletic prowess. They include Colchester United player – and Ipswich Town legend – Cole Skuse, who brings a unique insight into the professional game, and Paige Shorten, a highly-respected UEFA A License coach, a leading figure in female youth development. Louis Henman-Mason, an FA coach and a semi-professional footballer, is also part of the team. His experience as a student-athlete at a US university is invaluable.

 

Sport at St Joseph’s – Netball

St Joseph’s College Netball engages with every female student from the very start of their College career to the final bell… and beyond. Our Netball programme is player-centred and individualised through mentoring, team training and one-to-one sessions. We recognise the power that sport – and especially female-centred sport – can have, and we use every touch point with our students to inspire them to achieve their own individually-defined success. That may be aspiring for selection to a school team, joining a local club, trialling for the county or achieving national league pathways.

Our Netball programme concentrates on the fundamentals, instilling and reinforcing these from Prep School to First Team. This grassroots-up focus allows our student athletes to move seamlessly through the College, continually developing along the way. The College’s highly-qualified and experienced coaches and teachers are passionate about Netball and girls’ sport. They emphasise creativity, control, commitment and focus. Applied in all training sessions and lessons, these cornerstones encourage independent thinking and resilience. 

We believe participation in sport bolsters all aspects of life, providing girls with the experience they need to succeed in school and to become strong, talented women. In the latter stages of their education, we prepare them for life and netball post-St Joseph’s College, including those who will follow dual-career degree courses. The strength of our community bond is demonstrated in both the coaching work girls undertake with younger students, and their return to St Jo’s to support the National Netball Festival and the Old Birkfeldians v First Team match each year.

 

Sport at St Joseph’s – Cricket

St Joseph’s College takes pride in its Cricket programme, which is designed to provide an enjoyable and rewarding experience for every participant in an open and inclusive environment. The 2023-24 academic year is set to see more than 100 students participate in weekly games and club activities, with 10 age-group teams representing the school in 64 fixtures.

For those students wishing to enhance their technical skill development, 1-2-1 and small group coaching is available throughout the year in any of the sport’s three disciplines: batting, bowling and fielding. Students also have the opportunity to compete in a range of tournaments, including the County Cup at U12, U13, U14 and U15 levels, the ECB Girls National Indoor competition at U13 and U15 levels, and the National T20 Cup at U18 level.

Several students currently at the College are part of county age group squads, including Head Girl Amélie Clarke, who was recently named Suffolk U18 Girls captain. The College also boasts a rich history of cricketing success, with several former pupils having gone on to representative cricket and the professional game. These include Matt Hunn (Kent CCC) and Matt Henry (New Zealand international).

Looking ahead, the College is committed to building on its strong foundations and developing a successful cricket programme that provides an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all students. Whether they are looking to develop their skills or compete at a higher level, the Cricket Programme at St Joseph’s College is designed to cater to the needs of every participant, regardless of their ability or experience.

 

FAQs

Here you will find answers to some of the commonly asked questions about St Joseph’s College sport. Feel free to browse through the questions to learn more.

My child loves sport and dreams of playing professionally – how can St Jo’s help?

We understand the passion for sport and aspiration to pursue it professionally. We offer a range of programmes to support athletically able students in achieving their dreams, but we also ensure they remain well-rounded individuals. Our Dual Career programme allows students to balance their academic studies with sports training, whilst our Performance Sports programme provides additional coaching and support. We also have an ‘Excellence in Sport’ programme that recognises and rewards students who excel in their chosen sport. St Joseph’s may be a small school, but an impressive number of students have gone on to represent their country or play professionally in their chosen sport.

How can St Jo’s help my child develop their love for sport and improve their skills, even if they are not currently in a team?

You don’t have to be an elite rugby, football, netball or cricket player, to play sport at St Jo’s. We encourage cheerful participation in Games and PE lessons and we have a range of tempting options outside traditional team sports.

Why is St Joseph’s so special when it comes to sport?

We love it! The professional playing records and elite coaching positions on the CVs of Faculty members speak for themselves. The coaching team brings to bear an impressive amount of analytical and strategic knowledge. Our carefully crafted training programme is scaled to the students’ individual sports and their age to hit the sweet spot of maximising training but never overdoing it. Our first aid provision and visiting physiotherapists are excellent and our return-to-play programme is pioneering. Our facilities are superb. 

I hear you don’t play hockey?

Although hockey isn’t one of our four performance sports, we still offer hockey training during club time and a number of our students play at representative level. Tennis, squash, badminton and basketball are all played, as well as the provision for triathlon and athletics.

All ages

St Joseph’s College Rugby Festival

Friday 18 October – Sunday 20 October

Live Stream

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