Sport
Sport & Physical Education at Gravesend Grammar School
Sport and Physical Education at GGS has a key role in the development of our students. As well as the obvious physical benefits, the department prides itself in imparting our core whole school values of Respect, Hard Work, Friendship and Exploration. We also play a key role in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, and developing the teamwork skills to equip the students for life beyond GGS.
Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was despair
Nelson Mandela
Our Approach
Our Physical Education curriculum is broad and balanced and we aim to give our students the skills to remain physically active and healthy throughout their lifetime. Every pupil gets the opportunity to develop their Social, Cognitive and Physical skills through a wide range of sports and physical activities. Students in the lower school are ‘setted’ early in the year to enable students to develop alongside individuals of a similar ability. As students progress through towards the senior end of the school they are able to tailor their own curriculum, by opting to study the aspects they enjoyed in the lower school in greater depth. Whilst GGS is known for its sporting success, students of a lower ability have a very positive school sport experience. We have built strong relationships with many local sports teams and clubs and a large number of pupils remain members after their time at GGS. The opportunities that we are able to offer every student are helped by our extensive sports facilities which includes rugby pitches, indoor cricket nets, all weather pitches, a sports hall, athletic development centre and grass cricket squares.
Our Extra Curricular Programme
Our Extra curricular sports programme is extensive and we play around 300 midweek and Saturday fixtures across an academic year. We have competitive programmes in Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Badminton, Athletics, Rowing, Netball, Cricket, Volleyball and Swimming. Our Girls sports proramme is also very strong with rugby and netball both competing locally. All programmes have regular Strength and Conditioning training sessions in our state of the art athletic development centre. Students that are involved in these programmes have the opportunity to go on sports tours in the UK, Europe and world wide. Our senior students have the opportunity to celebrate their successes in our annual Athletes Ball, a black tie event that attracts current and former students. We also offer non-playing opportunities for our students including coaching, refereeing and officiation courses. We work closely with local primary and secondary schools as well as the district school games organiser to run sporting events for the wider community. We have a strong “Student Athlete” philosophy where students are held accountable for high standards in their educational, personal and sporting lives. They are mentored by our specialist PE and sports staff to ensure that they are successful in every aspect of their lives.
Our Sporting Alumni
We are extremely proud to maintain strong relationships with our former students. Students have gone on to a plethora of careers in the sports industry, from PE teachers to physiotherapists to sports coaches and even competitive and professional playing careers. Current England and AC Milan Football player Fikayo Tomori, England U20 and Saracens Rugby Player Olamide Sodeke, Kent County and Leeds Rhinos Netball Player Jess Symonds, to name just just a few, are proud Old Gravesendians.
