Enjoy & Excel Sport

The Athletic Development department supports over 400 College athletes across a wide variety of sports. All pupils are provided with a high quality programme that supports their long term athletic development.

Athletic Development sessions take place in our purpose-built Performance Gym and are led by Matthew Depledge, who is UKSCA Accredited, and also current Head of Strength and Conditioning with Welsh U20s Lacrosse.

The Athletic Development department and the Talented Athlete Programme have supported all of our successful athletes during the past few years. You can read more about all of the individuals that have been supported in the ‘Representation’ sections in each of the individual sports’ sections.

Badminton is open to pupils of all abilities and Badminton at Cheltenham is completely co-educational with boys and girls training and playing together. Cheltenham has seen much success in fixtures and competitions against schools from across the country. Recent successes have seen pupils competing and winning County and Regional titles at U16 and U18 age group levels. The Sports Centre has eight courts.

Sessions are run by Coaches, Sol Griffiths and Jamie Pearcy. Players who wish to compete at the highest levels are offered additional coaching and the chance to play competitions for Gloucestershire County Badminton.

Basketball is open to Fifth Form and Sixth Form pupils of all abilities and is a co-educational sport with a boys and a girls team. Cheltenham has seen much success in fixtures and competitions against schools regionally. Basketball is played on our two full courts within the Sports Centre.

Sessions are run by Coach, Michael Higgins. Players who wish to compete at the highest levels are offered additional coaching and the chance to play for the local national league teams.

Basketball is fun, inclusive and universal sport, with numbers growing due to increased interest.

Cricket has been played at College since it’s founding in 1841. Today, the cricket club fields 12 boys’ teams and six girls’ teams competing in fixtures against other cricketing schools. In 2024, Cheltenham College were listed in the Top 100 Schools for Cricket. We play block fixtures against the likes of St Edward’s Oxford and Marlborough College. The 1^st XI play a two day fixture against Haileybury and annual fixtures against the MCC and The Free Foresters. The girls’ programme continues to grow as more and more girls join us having played Cricket at their previous schools and at club level. A number of our boys and girls are actively involved in County Cricket Performance Pathways.

All players benefit from year-round coaching from College’s Cricket Professional Mark Briers (formerly a professional player at Worcestershire CCC and Durham CCC).  We are also very fortunate to be assisted by a number of ECB qualified cricket coaches and experienced members of the College teaching staff.

Cricketers at College play their matches on our fantastic cricket squares, with the 1st XI square being renowned as one of the finest cricket pitches in the country. Cheltenham College hosts The Cheltenham Cricket Festival every year, and has done since 1872, with Gloucestershire CCC playing host to other First Class Counties in both the four day format and T20 Cricket.

Horse riding is a truly co-educational sport. We cater for competitors on pupil’s own horses in dressage, show jumping and eventing. Tuition is arranged with inspirational and flexible instructors, currently Jenna Jewitt for eventing and Jo Lees (British Dressage SW Youth Coach) for dressage. Each pupil that chooses to partake in horse riding is coached in small groups or individually. Personal goal setting is encouraged and everyone is given opportunities to learn, progress and then compete representing College.

College competes in the National Schools Equestrian Association competitions, fielding teams in dressage, show jumping and eventing from 80cm to 1m10cm. National Championship Qualifications are numerous, as are successes in British Eventing, British Dressage and British Show Jumping competitions. With many Regional and also National representations. We regularly have riders on the College Talented Athlete Programme where they benefit from expert body conditioning as well as mental preparation techniques.

Our riders on horseback train off-campus at Rectory Farm, making use of their facilities including the brand new 40 x 60m all-weather arena. We also have British Eventing standard cross-country courses within a short travelling distance.

Livery can be arranged on a personal basis, should pupils wish to bring their horses in the competition season.

There is also availability to train at Prestige Equestrian for those experienced equestrians who do not have their own horses in the vicinity. Again, this is organised on a personal basis.

Football is a rapidly growing sport at Cheltenham College since its beginnings in 2017. The College now boasts four boys’ teams and three girls’ teams, with over 100 pupils playing regularly, three times per week. Pupils regularly train on one of the six pitches at College.

Cheltenham College have partnered with Cheltenham Town Football Club Academy, who provide regular professional coaching sessions for all pupils that wish to play Football.

Pupils play Golf recreationally and competitively against other schools and in regional competitions during the year. As Cheltenham College is located within the Cotswolds, pupils benefit from a range of high quality, beautiful and challenging courses in the local area. Our pupils practise and compete at Cotswold Hills Golf Club, a wonderful course with superb facilities. 

The College Golf team competes annually in the West of England Public School Championships and participates in a range of fixtures including matches against the Old Cheltonian Golfing Society, Malvern College, Bloxham School and Dean Close School.

In 2023, one of our talented players qualified to represent Gloucestershire in the regional tournament.

We also make full use of the club’s Professional Coach and the indoor range at Brickhampton, especially during the winter months.

Golf can be chosen from Fifth Form onwards.

Hockey has a strong tradition at Cheltenham College with the first documented boys’ fixture was in 1907 against Marlborough and the first girls’ Hockey match was in 1985. Throughout this time College has produced age group internationals that have gone on as Alumni to gain Oxbridge blues Full international status and have representatives at Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Hockey at College is a Core sport for both girls and boys with indoor hockey being very much part of the programme. The hockey programme is shaped around the pupil and looks to create challenging and fun environments. The pupils will receive dedicated, specialist training three times a week from our experienced hockey coaching staff as well as having fixtures on a Saturday. The girls are able to put out 15 teams across all age groups in the Autumn Term whilst in the Spring Term the boys have currently 12 teams,

We have a strong links with local clubs at National League level, with many pupils having the opportunity to train and play for these clubs outside of their school commitments.

Coaches: The programme is led by Gwyn Williams our Director of Hockey, who is the current Manager of Wales Senior Mens Hockey programme.

Cheltenham Netball supports pupils of all ages, abilities and experience to participate, compete and enjoy Netball throughout their time at school. Cheltenham College has a total of seventeen Netball teams, seven senior teams, five U15 teams and five U14 teams, each providing opportunities for pupils at College to compete against other schools across the country.

We have a highly qualified coaching team led by Kate Mears who is UKCC Level 2, a current Severn Stars performance pathway coach and is a qualified umpire. Kate is supported by specialist external coaches with years of experience within premier clubs. Five of our pupils are currently in England Netball pathways.

Cheltenham College has a strong link with the Superleague franchise Severn Stars. This link provides our pupils with opportunities to watch and be coached by the senior players at our Netball Activity camps.

The pupils are thoroughly supported along their journey at College through one to one coaching sessions, strength and conditioning, video analysis and mentorship support. Training sessions are based on skill, technical and tactical development whilst making sure that the pupils are developing and challenged within a fun, supportive environment.

Polo at Cheltenham College has seen success in national championships, and some players have progressed to represent Great Britain at an international level. 

College fields three teams in key fixtures, the most prestigious of which are the Schools and Universities Polo Association’s (SUPA) National Arena and Field Championships, and the prestigious Copenhagen Cup. We also arrange and play in friendly fixtures against other schools, in the arena during the Spring Term and on the field in the Summer Term.

We make use of the facilities at Longdole Polo Club, near Birdlip, for training sessions and home fixtures, where College players and teams are supported with instruction by professional, national-level coaches.

College teams have won the Schools and Universities Polo Association’s (SUPA) the open and intermediate national championships in 2022 and 2023 in the open and intermediate category, and 2024 open category.

College was one of the four original Rackets playing schools back in 1868 and contested the very first Public Schools Competition that year (along with Eton, Harrow and Charterhouse). College has enjoyed much Rackets success since and has hosted the British Professionals’ Championship twice.

We have just under 100 Racket players across College, with equal numbers of both boys and girls receiving coaching at least twice a week from our Rackets Professional Mark Briers and Assistant Rackets Professional, Sam Matthews.

College pupils play in the national competitions at Queen’s Club twice a year, and the girls play in the British Ladies Open. To help develop their game, all pupils can play against adult club players, either in fixtures against clubs like The Jesters or against visiting Old Cheltonians.

To inspire our Racket players, pupils are visited by successful Racket players including the Rackets World Champion, an Old Cheltonian himself, for an exhibition match and coaching session.

A number of College pupils have gone on to play and compete amongst the very best players in the world and be involved in the Scholarship schemes run by a number of the major Rackets Clubs in the USA.

In the last five years College have had eight National Champions and 10 runners-up.

The Boat Club and Rowing have been an integral part of College life since College was founded in 1841. The College Boat House is based on the banks of the River Severn at the foot of Tewkesbury Abbey.

The Director of Rowing and skilled team of professional coaches lead the Boat Club, which currently has over 70 pupils taking part. All rowers are given athletic development sessions in the performance gym by qualified strength and conditioning coaches. Pupils enjoy a warm, encouraging atmosphere. Boys and girls across each year group have recently represented College regionally and nationally across various boat classes.

During the Autumn and Spring Terms, the club participates in Head Races, which are processional time trials. The Head season culminates in late March at the Schools’ Head of the River Race in London, raced on the famous Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race course. Summer Term is regatta season which is side-by-side racing over 2km or less. The top key races in the calendar are the National Schools Regatta at the end of the first Half Term in May, Henley Women’s Regatta in mid-June and Henley Royal Regatta just after the end of term.

Cheltenham College played in one of the first school rugby football match against Rugby School in 1896. In 1886 the, ‘Cheltenham Rules’ were adopted by the Rugby Football Union.

The Rugby fixture list continues to provide pupils with the opportunity to compete at the highest level, against some of the top independent Rugby schools in the country. During the XV season, we field 14 teams of all ages and abilities ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to play competitive Rugby. Specifically, our U15 team enter the National Schools Cup and the 1^st XV compete at the prestigious St Joseph’s National School festival. For the sevens season we field three teams and compete at various competitions culminating at the National Schools Sevens in London.

The College rugby programme is led by former Gloucester and England professional Olly Morgan, and is assisted by a number of former professional players and College staff.

Cheltenham College has strong relationship with Gloucester Rugby. As a partner, the school currently has over 20 players involved with the U14, U15, U16 and U18 teams. Success of our programme and pathway has been highlighted in the continued success after school. Since 2017, six OC’s have gained professional contracts. The 1st XV consistently has many pupils representing Gloucester U18s in the Academy League.

Clay pigeon shooting was made an official sport in 2016, but first introduced to College since the mid 1990s. College has three clays teams who benefit from the coaching of Matt Venner, Lantra, BASC. Throughout the year, sessions are run at an off-site location, allowing pupils to develop their love of the sport and represent College in fixtures against other school.

Squash is a well-established and popular sport at College, played by boys and girls in both the Autumn and Spring Terms. Our five heated Squash courts are in the College Sports Centre, newly refurbished with glass doors and a generous balcony. A professional Squash Coach is employed by College all year round, and leads the coaching throughout College.

We have a competitive fixture list with four boys’ teams and three girls’ teams competing in weekly fixtures. Each year we enter the England Squash National Schools competition as well as invitational tournaments. The 1st V competes in the prestigious Surrey Sports Park Invitational Tournament.

County standard players are supported with additional one-to-one coaching and time on court outside of the main Squash training sessions. College is also a part of the public Squash Club that plays at the Sports Centre and uses these fixtures to give pupils more competitive experience against a range of players.

Swimming at College follows a pathway through from early years in the Prep School, right through to the Upper Sixth in College, with early morning swims and regular games slots.

Internal and external galas are held both for The Prep and Senior College which cover all age groups across both parts of the school. Squads achieve regular success under the stewardship of Andy Osborne, (Level 3 ASA qualified coach) who provides regular teaching and coaching for all at the College Sports Centre Pool.

The swim programme is also supported by an Athletic Development programme for those that require it and talented swimmers can gain access to the Talented Athlete Programme providing further support as required.

College swimming is proud of the increasing numbers of swimmers taking their ASA teaching qualifications which develops them as teachers and coaches of the future and is a direct qualification into the workplace.

The Sport Award Programme aims to inspire and nurture our student athletes through offering a bespoke and comprehensive package of support. We aim to further develop their character, creativity, curiosity, and sense of community whilst striving for continuous excellence both on and off the pitch.  To achieve our mission, three progressive pathways have been developed: The Junior Sport Academy Programme, Senior Sport Academy Programme, and the Talented Athlete Programme.

The Junior Sport Award Programme is for Third and Fourth Form Sport Award Holders who attend weekly education and athletic development sessions in the performance gym. The Senior Sport Award Programme offers students in Fifth, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth drop-in mentoring sessions throughout the year with the Director of Sport, Head of Sport Awards and Head of Athletic Development. Additionally, Junior and Senior Sport Academy pupils and members of the Talented athlete Programme will also gain access to the Twilight Sports Series which involves the offering of Sports Specialist talks.

Talented Athlete Programme (TAP)

The Talented Athlete Programme involves an annual application and invite only for students in the Fifth Form and upwards. This programme is for pupils currently performing at or with the potential to perform at national or professional pathway level. Successful applicants will be provided with holistic educational support and individualised athletic development sessions to help support their individual sporting needs.

All members of the Sport Award Programme and TAP attend experiences that enhance their understanding of the wider sporting world. For example, visits to Bath University to experience a day in the life of an elite athlete both on the pitches and in the gym. Members are invited to attend the Twilight Sport Series delivered by internal Sport Professional Coaches and external guests, including high performing Elite athletes and Sport stakeholders.

Tennis is a major part of College life during the Summer Term with pupils able to make use of four hard courts and 16 AstroTurf courts. We have five boys’ teams and 14 girls’ teams regularly participating in fixtures throughout the year.

Throughout the year, there is the opportunity for girls and boys to improve their technique and match play during the winter programme, readying them for fixtures in the Summer Term.

College has a very competitive fixture list including the best schools in the area, and the pupils take great pride in representing the College in the Gloucester County Championships in all age groups. Additional support is provided to our tennis players through our Talented Athlete Programme for those players that want to take their game to the highest levels.

Recent College Tennis successes include our U18 girls winning the Gloucestershire Schools Girls’ Doubles titles in 2015, 2017, and 2019. College has produced numerous Gloucestershire County Champions.