Sports Home | King Henry VIII School, Coventry |
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Sport HistoryAthletics Read moreAthletics CloseAthletics is the major summer sport at King Henry VIII School. Over the years the school has enjoyed success at local, regional and national levels. A large number of our pupils are selected to represent Coventry at county level. Other students also represent the counties in which they live. The pupils enjoy the use of the Warwick University track during their games afternoons, and training sessions are held regularly during the week at school. Cricket Read moreCricket CloseKing Henry VIII School has enjoyed a great deal of individual and team cricket success over many seasons. The school runs teams at all age groups and plays on a competitive circuit in the Midland region. We are fortunate to have excellent facilities, including one of the best squares in the area. We also have indoor and outdoor nets which are used by Warwickshire CC Junior sides and local cricket clubs during the school holidays. Recent seasons have been very successful; the 1st XI won seven of their 10 matches, including victories against the MCC XI (a joint team with Bablake), the 40 Club and the Old Coventrians. The most successful side overall was the Under 14 XI. Several boys have gained honours at District and County level. Cross Country Read moreCross Country CloseIn the past, King Henry VIII individuals and teams have had a good record in Cross Country and we would like this year to be no exception. We can only achieve good results with your continued commitment and efforts. We hope that the regulars will encourage the others of their year group to participate and we would like team players from other sports to try to run wherever possible to improve their general fitness. There are opportunities to represent the school as part of a team in your age group and to run for a place as an individual. In the Coventry league races there are events for U12, 14, 16 and 19. Certificates and medals are rewarded to the top three teams and individuals in each event. The top 15 runners in each age group in any of the league races will be invited to compete for Coventry in the Inter District event in the West Midlands Championships. The biggest fixture of the year takes place in February and is hosted by King Henry’s in the Memorial Park. This is a national event where schools enter a team of four girls or six boys to complete a 2.3-mile relay course (to find out more about this race, please contact relayrace@khviii.net ). There are also other large national events that we take part in such as the English Schools’ Fell Running Championships and Northern Schools’Cross Country Championships, Midland and Northern Independent Schools’ Cross Country Championships and the Stonyhurst College Invitation. Years 11–13 boys participate in regular Wednesday afternoon fixtures, along with nine other schools in the Greater Birmingham League. Normal fixtures involve three or four teams, with each team running against each other twice during the season. A number of special events involve the whole league. Points are awarded at each fixture to teams and individuals, and there are trophies and medals presented at the end of the season. A lot of camaraderie is evoked by the fixtures, as teams get to know each other quite well. In the last couple of years it has been pleasing to see girls joining the squad and making an impression! Hockey Read moreHockey CloseGirls Hockey We are fortunate at King Henry VIII to have several experienced and enthusiastic hockey coaches/teachers managing the teams. Hockey has always been a popular sport, and the numbers of girls regularly representing the school exceeds 90. Matches are played throughout the week and on Saturday morning at the Astroturf. As with netball, teams are run for all age groups and more recently we have introduced ‘B’ team fixtures up to Year 10, to allow more pupils the opportunity to participate. In recent years, squads of players have enjoyed tours to Holland, Australia and Malaysia and Singapore. We are currently making final arrangements for our tour to Malaysia and Sri Lanka in July 2013. Boys Hockey Hockey is played in all year groups at King Henry VIII. It is a major game at the school, alongside rugby and cricket. At U12 level, hockey is offered as a lunchtime club with some afterschool matches. At U13 level, hockey becomes part of the pupils games programme and this continues throughout the school. In each age group, pupils have one midweek lunchtime practice and one afterschool training session. Once the pupils reach year 11, they have an option to choose Hockey as their major sport. At present at senior level we run three teams, which now compete in an inter-school Warwickshire league. Over the two terms, we have over 120 inter school fixtures over the 5 age groups, as well as entering various national and local competitions. The three senior teams currently play fixtures every Wednesday afternoon and we encourage our players to become involved in weekend club hockey. Coaching in the sport is at the highest level. The Head of Hockey is Mr McKee, who is an experienced player and England Level 3 coach. A number of the teaching staff make a significant contribution to the coaching of hockey both in games and afterschool practices. They include Mr Morton, Mr Lees, Mr Bell and Mrs Tracey, who are highly experienced coaches and umpires. The sport is currently thriving. The senior teams have toured to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Dubai over the past few years. Another major tour is taking place in July 2013 to Sri Lanka and Malaysia with over 40 pupils travelling. 2018 sees our first major Multi Sport Tour travel to South Africa with 80 boys and girls. Players regularly take part in England Hockey’s single system and some players have represented their National Age group including both England and Wales. We currently have shared use of two full sized sand filled hockey pitches and one training astroturf at the school site. Sessions are also held at Coventry University to allow matches and additonal practices to take place. 2015 saw the 1st Xi win the 1st Division title under the captaincy of Dan Smith. Netball Read moreNetball CloseNetball is a popular and successful sport at King Henry VIII. At least two teams are managed in all age groups, with a large number of girls participating in lunchtime practices. Matches are played against local schools throughout the week, and on Saturday mornings against schools further a field. The school is regularly represented at county, and regional level, and a number of girls have gained individual county selection in several age groups. Orienteering Read moreOrienteering CloseOrienteering is a sport that involves using a specially drawn map and a compass to navigate a course from one control to another. Each control is located at a particular feature on the map. At each control point is an orange and white flag connected to this is either a manual or electronic punch, which will record that you have been to the control. The winner of an event is the person who visits all the controls in the correct order, in the quickest time. Taking part requires a good general fitness and skill in order to find the best route from start to finish. In the past, King Henry VIII School have had a great record in orienteering, individually and as a team and this year we would like to continue this success. To achieve this we need all the regulars to continuing attending and encourage their friends and fellow peers within their year group to come along too. Local event’s take place most Saturdays until Easter and then change to Wednesday evenings for the summer term; school minibuses attend most of these. For more information about up and coming events look on the local orienteering website www.octavian-droobers.org or contact Miss Morse at school. King Henry VIII School have experienced considerable success in orienteering, being placed within the top two schools nationally and having a hand full of pupils represent their county and country. National Representatives in OrienteeringAimee Morse (England) and Harrison McCartney (England) County Representatives in OrienteeringAimee Morse, Harrison McCartney, Zoe Nicolson, Jamie Nicolson, Ella-Rose McCartney and Thomas Lea National Representatives in Orienteering World Schools Orienteering Championship 2013 – Algarve, Portugal Congratulations to the Senior Girls’ orienteering team, comprising of Rachel Johnson, Aimee Morse, Rajani Murthy, Zoe Nicolson and Rhiannon Cope and also to Harrison McCartney who was part of the Junior Boys’ Select Team. They represented England, along with 34 other athletes, at the recent World Schools Orienteering Championships, competing against teams from 16 countries across the world. The competition consisted of two races, a middle and long distance event, with the two results combining to give an overall team result. In addition to the serious races, the athletes also took part in a friendship relay and a cultural evening. In the middle distance race at Vila Real de Santo Antonio, all competed to a high standard with the girls being placed 11th overall in the team standings and the select team which included Harrision being placed 2nd. Needless to say, the Senior girls were determined to make the top 10 and Harrison’s team wanted to push for the top spot! All age ranges were very competitive. The final team results were to be decided at the long distance event. Prior to the long distance event, the entire team had some free time and spent the day visiting the nearby town of Tavira. In the evening they were able to sample food and drink from the other countries and watch their traditional dances. The English team took along a variety of traditional sweets and performed the Floral Dance. The long distance race at Santa Rita was by far the toughest race many of the competitors had ever experienced. At first sight, the distances were not too bad but when climb, temperature and terrain were added into the mix, it became an extremely tough race! Bearing this in mind, each of our athletes had a very good run, all crossing the line feeling tired but incredibly happy to have finished the race! The serious side of the competition was now complete, leaving just the friendship relay, a race for light-hearted fun. For the final full day in Portugal, all 350+ athletes travelled to Castro Marim for the friendship event. In this event, international cooperation was encouraged, with all athletes being placed in a team alongside two other athletes from different countries. Together, they would have to overcome language barriers and decide who was going to visit which of the 31 controls. Once this was planned, everyone congregated for a mass start and then all set off in search of their designated controls. All teams came back with happy faces and some amazing new friends. After the event was a time for ‘top swapping’ in which athletes were able to ask other competitors for a top swap! Our athletes came away with some prized tops, including those of Sweden, China and New Zealand, along with extremely happy faces! It was an amazing week for all, with everyone coming home with very fond memories. Our girls achieved their aim of a top 10 position, coming 9th overall against some stiff competition from around the world. The Junior Boys’ Select Team which included Harrison, also achieved their aim and are now World Champions in their category! Overall, England had some exceptional results in all 8 age categories, with 3 podium places, 4 top ten places and one just outside! Outdoor Adventure Read moreOutdoor Adventure CloseKing Henry VIII School is fortunate in having a unique Outdoor Education Department. It is believed that every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development. Outdoor education helps young people to become more motivated and independent. It develops practical life skills and lasting physical and mental well-being. A whole host of activities, challenges, trips and expeditions are available for all students, ranging from Adventure Safaris in the local countryside for Year 7 through to Eco-Challenge Safaris in South Africa for Years 12 and 13. In between, the vast majority of students rise to the challenges of Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, which include community volunteering, skills and physical sections, as well as self-reliant expeditions in the UK and abroad. Many students also undertake John Muir Awards: these involve discovering wild places, exploring them, taking part in conservation activities and sharing experiences. The Head of Department, Mrs Anne Wade, says that the scope for the development of Outdoor Education at King Henry VIII School is huge and it is hoped that the department can expand to provide even more exciting and adventurous opportunities; for example, the involvement of younger students in a pre-D of E scheme called Adventure Service Challenge; as well as Bushcraft, Navigation and First Aid courses. Cycling and watersports opportunities are also planned for the future. In short, King Henry VIII School is firmly committed to outdoor learning as part of its extremely wide range of academic and extra-curricular provision for its students. Rugby Union Read moreRugby Union CloseRugby has been played at King Henry VIII for over 100 years. Old boys include several British Lions and England players. 2015 saw 2 players reach the Midlands squad at U18 level showing the development and progression of our current structure. 2016 saw the school go one better with 3 reaching the Midlands group and 1 moving onto the England Counties set up. Elite level rugby player certainly are given the opprotunity to flourish along side the A, B C and D team players. In Years 7,8 and 9 all boys participate in rugby and have the opportunity of representing the school at either A, B, C, D or E team level. In Years 10 to 13 many boys opt to play rugby and play regular fixtures on Saturday mornings or afternoons against schools throughout the Midland region. Practices take place on the main school site and at the Highway, our extensive playing field adjacent to the A45. The school also successfully enters both local and national competitions. Boys are encouraged to develop their skills and gain experience at District, County, Regional and International levels. The Senior teams have recently enjoyed tours to South Africa, Australia, Zimbabwe, Chile and Canada and Junior teams to Ireland, Portugal and Cornwall. Tennis Read moreTennis CloseAll girls play tennis as part of the summer games programme. Courts are used at school, as well as in Spencer Park and the Memorial Park. Fixtures are played in all age groups throughout the week, and on Saturday mornings. In recent years, we have been very successful in the Coventry singles and doubles tournaments and, in 2010, the U15 girls reached the National Finals of the Schools’ Tennis Competition. |