Sport

Athletics

Athletics at Colfe’s is a major summer sport with all pupils learning and refining disciplines in PE lessons.

Athletes benefit from expert coaching and we make good use of Sutcliffe Park Athletics Track, where we host our annual athletics championships to display the talents of our athletes. We have a large number of pupils selected to represent the district in the London Schools Athletics Competitions with some selected to compete at International level.

Cricket

Cricket is the major summer game for both boys and girls at Colfe's.

Saturday fixtures take place for our leading squads with midweek fixtures for our development sides. The school currently fields 35 teams so that everyone gets a chance to participate in the sport.

Boys enjoy competition against local competitors; as part of the London Schools Cup and the National 20/20. Our First XI compete against the MCC and Leathersellers' Club.

Girls start their season participating in the Lady Taverners Indoor Competition where they have enjoyed great success at County level, enter National and County hardball competitions and play regularly fixtures in both softball and hardball competitions in the summer term.

Winter nets run throughout the autumn and spring term to enable cricketers to focus on skill development and acquisition. Specialist external coaches support all of our cricket sessions.

Cross Country

Cross Country has grown in popularity in recent years and we field competitive teams for both boys and girls.

Fixtures range from local school competitions to borough Championships, London Schools Championships and the English Schools Cross Country Cup. Colfe's teams frequently hold the borough titles and a number of our elite runners go on to represent London at the English Schools Championships in March.

We hold our own well-contested cross-country championship in Oxleas Woods and House cross-country is extremely popular.

Football

Football is played by both boys and girls in the spring term and every pupil has the opportunity to represent in competitive fixtures. We compete against Independent Schools in the South of England and participate in the Independent Schools Football Association and Independent Schools Cup. In addition to games, training regularly takes place midweek under the expert guidance of external coaches who work closely with the PE and games staff to support the development of our pupils.

Both Colfe's boys and girls represent local London academies such as Charlton, West Ham and Millwall FC.

Hockey

Hockey is the core sport played in the Autumn Term for girls. Regular, friendly fixtures are played mid-week and some Saturdays during the term.

We have good links with local clubs and many of our students trial and are welcomed into local Junior Development Centres (JDCs).

Our boys also have the opportunity in years 10-13 to experience and develop their hockey skills. Mixed training sessions take place in the spring term for our seniors.

Netball

Netball is the core sport for girls in the Spring term with pre-season training and friendly fixtures taking place in the Autumn term.

The school fields 24 teams across the senior school so that every girl will represent the school throughout the year. The A-C teams participate in regular Saturday fixtures against other Independent Schools such as Alleyn's, Bancroft's, Benenden, Reigate Grammar, Sutton Valence and Woldingham. Other teams participate midweek and during their games lessons. Teams are entered and enjoy success in local leagues, cups and Kent County competitions at all levels and the Independent Schools National Netball competitions at First VII, U15, U13 level.

Many of our girls go on to represent the County and we have strong links with local Netball clubs.

Pool Activities

Our on-site 25m pool is in use throughout the year for swimming, lifesaving, water polo and occasional synchronised swimming and kayaking.  Colfe's swimmers compete in galas against local schools including the London League Gala and Kent and London Schools as well as the Cadet and English Schools water polo tournaments.

Before and after-school training takes place three times week where pupils work on both stroke technique and stamina, supported by our experienced coaching team. The school also has close links with local swimming clubs to provide pupils with further opportunities.

We aim for every pupil to be able to swim a length of front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke by the end of Year 9 as well as having deep-water confidence. This leads onto the lifesaving course that students take when they reach Year 10. Many of our pupils progress on to assisting and coaching the younger pupils in addition to their own training.

Rugby

Rugby is the main competitive sport for boys in the Autumn Term and girls participate in the Sixth Form.

Colfe's has regular competitive fixtures both on Saturdays and midweek against local schools, including Brentwood, Caterham, City of London and Judd, producing 20 teams from First XV level down to the U12s.

The First XV compete in the National Cup and other age groups compete in county tournaments. In the Spring term the school enters Regional and National 7s tournaments. Boys regularly achieve representative honours at County and Saracens Academy level following in the footsteps of Old Colfeian Matt Gallagher who is currently playing in the Aviva Premiership.

Rugby tours have recently included visits to Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and South Africa.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo (ITF) is run as an after-school co-curricular activity. This scientific martial art is offered to all in the Senior School. Pupils learn not only how to defend themselves but also gain fitness, confidence and strength of mind.

Gradings are offered on a regular basis for those taking part.

Tennis

Tennis is a popular sport during the summer term and both our boys and girls participate in regular friendly matches against local schools and in the Ageon Schools competitions.

Coaches from local tennis clubs provide support to our dedicated tennis staff and work hard with our  pupils to develop skills across the attainment range. We have several players with LTA rankings and many of our pupils are members of local tennis clubs.