Sport

Every Godolphin pupil, no matter their ability, has the opportunity to achieve in PE, sport and physical activity. Pupils leave with the competence, knowledge and understanding to stay healthy and fit in their everyday life long after they leave the school. Godolphin is values driven, and in sport, we foster and embody the school’s values of excellence, integrity and respect as well as instilling the virtues of commitment. Our fantastic team of teaching staff and sports coaches also understand that enjoyment is essential, using sport to improve mental wellbeing as well as physical health.

Godolphin offers a broad range of activities as part of the curriculum, as well as a comprehensive programme of after school clubs and activities. From lacrosse to netball, badminton to table tennis or gymnastics to yoga, there is something for everyone. Our sports teams play competitive matches every week, and our focus sports include lacrosse, netball, hockey, cross-country, swimming, athletics, tennis and cricket. In addition, for our most talented athletes we offer a Sport Scholarship programme to encourage performance at the highest level and educate our top athletes in sports nutrition, psychology and training methods.
 

Richard Hall, Director of Sport

Athletics

Godolphin pupils have a proud history of success in athletics events. Over the years we have had pupils compete at, and indeed win the English Schools Finals, with some going on to international success. Our pupils have access to athletics both through the taught curriculum and co curricular sport, including cross country running. We train both at school and on local athletics facilities. In competition, we regularly take part in meetings with local schools alongside the Junior and Senior Wessex events, the ESAA track and field cup, and the ESAA cross country cup.

Pupils also have the opportunity to compete at Salisbury area events, often then progressing to county, regional and national finals.

Equestrian

Equestrian at school often conjures up images of large boarding schools associated with the sport, where horses can be made available for a child to ride, or alternatively, each term parents wave off both their child and their horse. Whilst not able to offer those facilities, Godolphin is an excellent example of what can be achieved in equestrian by a school that offers both day, full or flexi boarding alternatives.

Over the past few years there has been an increase in those participating in equestrian, and we are proud of the pupils and their families that represent Godolphin at a range of different events and disciplines. If you already compete or would like more information – whether you are new to the school or an existing pupil who thinks they are now ready to take their riding further – please contact our Acting Director of Sport, Sarah Pokai.
 

Hockey

We run 12A & B, U13A & B, U14A, U15A and 1st XI teams. Pupils are given the opportunity to train on the astro at Senior level and have lessons where possible at the Chafyn Astro. Regular fixtures include Dauntsey's, South Wilts Grammar School, Embley, St Mary's Calne, Marlborough, Farleigh and Clayesmore. We regularly enter teams into the County tournaments at U13, U14 and U16. 
 

Sarah Pokai, Hockey

Lacrosse

Godolphin is passionate about Lacrosse. As one of our main sports, this is taught to all year groups in the Autumn and Spring Terms. The Lacrosse teams regularly play fixtures on Saturdays against a range of schools across the South West. We regularly facilitate A & B teams in multiple year groups, including some with C teams.

Godolphin has a very experienced coaching staff including; Jamie Powell (Team GB Lacrosse), Storm Trentham (Wales Lacrosse and founder of Kenya Lacrosse), Chelsea Nasmyth-Miller (Wales Lacrosse). This allows Godolphin to provide a wealth of knowledge and specific coaching strategies that is inclusive of all abilities. 
 

Godolphin has a large number of pupils who regularly attend National Academies in the UK and some of our staff still represent at National and International level.

Jamie Powell, Senior Lacrosse

Netball

Netball is one of our focus sports in the Spring Term although we also participate in the district and county tournaments in the Autumn. Godolphin pupils are passionate about netball, it is accessible to all at participation and performance level which allows us to provide appropriate challenge and opportunity to all. Our primary aim is to inspire, engage and enthuse pupils to play netball. 
 

Swimming

We are fortunate at Godolphin to have the all year round use of a fabulous indoor pool which in turn allows the pupils to experience a wide spectrum of water based activities.

On the competitive front we have a strong squad which competes on both a friendly and competitive level, some of which is joint with the Godolphin Prep. Mostly hosted in our own pool we compete against local schools such as Dauntsey, Marlborough and St Swithun’s.

All the pupils swim consistently well and most continue to attain Personal Best Times at each outing which are recorded and compared to the school records. All times are assessed for the Amateur Swimming Association’s School Speed awards and in total Godolphin Senior pupils hold 156 School Speed Awards, 64 of which are gold awards. We are additionally fortunate that several of our pupils compete at County, Regional and National level and a flexible approach enables us to be able to accommodate their training schedules.

In the competitively quieter Summer Term, as well as some training, we take part in the RLSS UK’s Life Saving programme. This goes some way to providing pupils with the skills they need to be confident in the pool or the sea. Built into the programme are lessons in valuable survival, rescue and sports skills. For many the programme offers the first opportunity to explore water safety and we hope that some will take it further and go on to qualify as a full Lifeguard. 

Tennis

Each year we are proud to be able to field 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Senior tennis teams as well as a range of teams at U15, U14, U13 and U12. Regular fixtures are held against Dauntsey’s, Bryanston, Marlborough, St Mary’s Calne, St Swithun’s and Farleigh.

We also have three excellent Tennis Coaches who help oversee our team training as well as offering weekly lessons on a one to one/pairs basis.
 

Tennis Coaches: Joan Caplen, Jayne Melhuish, Eila Barron