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Date Posted: 22nd February
Categories: Prep SchoolSenior School
When choosing a school for your child, you may be primarily concerned with the academic success of its pupils. However, it’s important to consider non-academic activities that your child can participate in, such as school sports. In this blog, we explain why sport is important in school for children’s holistic development, regardless of age.
Participating in school sports can improve students’ self-esteem and help them feel better about themselves. Having physical education in the school curriculum allows children from a young age develop the social skills to work with other teammates, make new friends and learn how rewarding it is to participate in team sports, especially if they score that winning goal! Seeing how their contribution impacts the team’s success can be incredibly empowering for young people and make them feel part of the school community.
The self-confidence children gain from participating in sports and physical education carries over to other areas of their lives, such as academic studies and personal relationships.
Participating in physical education helps school-age children learn social skills, build relationships with other teammates, make new friends, and learn how to engage in friendly competition. Team sports provide an opportunity for students to practice working together towards a common goal whilst helping them develop leadership skills. Working together as a team encourages co-operation, strengthens communication skills, and teaches problem-solving. It also allows students to experience success as an individual and as part of a collective effort.
Regularly participating in physical education helps children learn the importance of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle for their mental and physical health. Plus, having sports on the school curriculum may encourage children to become physically active adults later, as they’re aware of exercise’s many benefits for a healthy body and mind.
If children love school physical education lessons, they may decide to get involved in extracurricular school sports clubs. Doing this also encourages healthy eating habits, as children will begin to understand the impact different foods have on their energy levels when participating in physical activity outside of regulated lessons.
In addition to physical education being brilliant for physical health, school sports can also be great for a student’s mental health. Participating in physical education as part of the school curriculum is a chance for children to take a break from any stress they may have. Instead, school sports allow children to focus on having fun and being in the moment with their other teammates without having to worry about anything else.
Having sports on the school curriculum can help improve the concentration of students throughout the day. Physical activity has been suggested to increase dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain, which impacts the brain’s ability to concentrate on tasks. Therefore, physical education at school can help students beyond improving their social skills and physical health, positively impacting their academic education.
One of the great things about participating in sports at school is that children can develop friendships with other people they may not normally engage with in their daily school life.
Also, schools that offer an array of sports clubs means that children have various options to choose from, no matter their interest. Ultimately, this means that those young people will bond with others over their shared interest in a particular sport – whether that’s tennis, football, badminton or even Quidditch (this is something that Wycliffe offers)! Likewise, participating in regular sporting activities outside of school helps students feel part of a community of like-minded individuals, especially if they engage in competitions or tournaments.
Overall, sports on the school curriculum help children from a young age in many ways, from developing their social skills by making friends, learning how to deal with conflict, and celebrating shared success with others. Likewise, school sports allow children to take a step back from their academic work and engage in fun physical activity that isn’t reliant on academic performance.
Ultimately, school sports will benefit young people’s education as it will impact their overall enjoyment of their time in school and lets them focus more during lessons; potentially resulting in better academic performance.
Stonehouse, England, Wycliffe Cricket v MCC at Wycliffe Sports pitches Stonehouse, England Wycliffe Sports pitches on 26 May 2022,
Wycliffe is a leading Independent School based in the heart of the Cotswolds countryside. With day, boarding and flexi boarding options available, our private school sports activities includes a variety of traditional and non-traditional physical activities.
If your child is after something a little bit different, we have a large variety of non-mainstream school sports activities that they can try!
We offer a range of different school sports available to try, so no child feels left out and can engage in something they enjoy, whether pilates, football, Zumba, Quidditch or fencing. We have world-class coaches in their field at Wycliffe, including Henry Trinder, an Ex Gloucestershire Rugby Club Centre, who’s our Director of Rugby and Tony Wilburn, an ex-USA basketball player, who’s in charge of developing our basketball programme.
We also offer an elite athlete’s sports programme, so those who truly love sports can excel at Wycliffe. Sports scholarships are available for individuals that have potential and have been recognised for their sporting achievements.
Excitingly, we have had sporting scholars use us as a springboard to UK and US universities. Our school rowing programme has resulted in pupils trialling for Great Britain and participating in the Henley Regatta. So, you can be assured that Wycliffe will allow your child to be nurtured and flourish in the sport of their choice.
21-06 WC Rowing
Our excellence in sports translates to education, too, as we pride ourselves on providing outstanding academic education to our pupils to ensure they develop into fantastic global citizens.
If you’re looking for a leading independent school for your child, get in contact with us today or visit us at one of our open events.
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