Hurstpierpoint College – Recognising the physical and mental value of sport

Rob Kift, Director of Sport at Hurst College, speaks to Sussex Business Times about his department’s continuing drive to ensure that each pupil develops a lifelong love of sport. 

“In 2020, we were delighted to win the Sporting Achievement Award in the Independent Schools of the Year, because of our focus for recognising the physical and mental value of sport and sharing the benefits with the wider community, including the children of key workers during lockdown.

The physical and mental wellbeing of pupils is central to Hurst’s sports offering and equal attention is given to those who simply want to participate, as well as the elite performers. The ambition is to create an activity diet that engages all pupils in an enjoyable, challenging and meaningful way, through traditional team and individual sports and outdoor pursuits, and to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. We also offer a unique player welfare programme, with qualified physiotherapists who triage, monitor injuries and support rehabilitation in conjunction with strength and conditioning coaches.

Our philosophy has always been the importance of sport for all, which not only includes our own students and staff, but also other schools and organisations in our local community. Our extensive facilities and a sustained programme of development play a significant role in providing a broad range of activities, creating community initiatives and hosting sports events. The college has forged strong links with maintained schools by hosting development days, as well as being a hub for Surrey Storm Netball South and Sussex County Cricket academies, a feeder for the Harlequins Rugby Development Programme and the base for Sussex Hockey.

With the unprecedented circumstances surrounding Covid-19, the Sports Department responded to the unique challenges of remote learning by implementing alternative ways of engagement and successfully delivered a comprehensive programme, including on-site options for children of key workers. As such, people became much more aware of their physical and mental wellbeing while we remained proactive, providing daily coaching videos online so that our pupils were encouraged to get involved physically.

The priority has been for pupils to be outside in the fresh air as much as possible, challenging us to be inventive and utilise our facilities to their best advantage. The requirement for them to be in year group bubbles added to the problem, but we overcame this with the introduction of temporary facilities such as a golf driving range and a marquee to house aerobics and spin classes. Whilst matches against other schools were suspended, more in house competitions were introduced as an alternative. 

Under normal circumstances, our carefully crafted development programme has consistently delivered success at regional and national competitions and also taught pupils important life skills along the way. We continually strive to establish a reputation for the quality, breadth and inclusivity of our sporting provision, but also for the passion and commitment of our talented hard-working team who ensure that each pupil develops a lifelong love of sport and physical activity.  

This summer we will organise a London School’s Athletic Day which will give many local schools the chance to compete and experience sport at Hurst.”

For further information please call 01273 836937 www.hppc.co.uk