/
A SPORT-FOR-ALL ETHOS
Sport
A sport-for-all ethos, with 150+ teams and expert coaching encouraging every pupil to participate, compete and enjoy being active. Our elite sportsmen and women enjoy national and international success.
PE & Games
Years 7 and 8
In games, cricket, hockey, netball (girls), rugby (boys – contact/non-contact) and tennis are compulsory. Pupils are split into ability groups where they are coached by specialists.
Pupils try a variety of different sports in PE, including gymnastics, badminton and basketball, and develop an understanding of the benefits of exercise. They learn how to apply training methods such as speed, agility and quickness (SAQ) and core body exercises to enhance their fitness.
Years 9 – 11
In games, as well as our core sports, additional sports are available for pupils to select including basketball, badminton, climbing, shooting and football in Year 9, and rowing from Year 11.
Pupils get the chance to participate in a number of different activities in PE, such as orienteering, volleyball and lacrosse, and are also introduced to the fitness suite, learning methods and principles of training. We also develop pupils’ coaching and leadership skills as part of modules such as inclusive sports and global games.
We offer GCSE PE from Year 10, in addition to PE lessons and our Sports Leaders Level 1. Pupils will study the structure of the skeleton, movement analysis, components of fitness and how to optimise their training programmes. Additionally, pupils will develop their ability to analyse and evaluate sporting performance and demonstrate their knowledge through a written piece of coursework. They will understand key socio-cultural influences that affect people’s involvement in physical activity and sport and learn how psychological states can impact performance.
The GCSE course concludes in Year 11 with pupils deepening their understanding of the structure and function of body systems and the short and long-term effects of exercise on these. They will also explore the impact of physical activity on health, fitness, and well-being. At the end of the year, pupils will sit two papers, submit their coursework, and be assessed in three different sports.



Extra-Curricular Sport
We want each student to find a sport they enjoy enough to pursue after leaving school. We strive for excellence both in performance and attitude, and cater for everyone – regardless of ability – by providing a very high standard of coaching, facilities and opportunities to train and compete.
We field around 160 teams each year and play on average 450 matches per term across all sports.
The cricket programme’s main focus is on all individuals developing and practising their key skills, in addition to structured and focused nets sessions.
During the winter, pre-season training takes place for all age groups indoors, using our six-lane indoor nets.
In boys’ cricket, we field teams across all year groups, who all have the chance to represent the school in various county and national cup competitions. For those excelling in their age groups, there is the opportunity to play for the year above in order to maximise their potential and further develop.
In girls’ cricket, we field hardball teams in the U13, U14 and U15 age groups, as well as softball teams to cater for all abilities and interests in the game. The U15 team enter the national Twenty20 cup and the U12, U13 and U14 teams take part in county competitions. In addition, we field U15 and U13 sides in the Lady Taverners national indoor cup.
Pupils also have the opportunity to take part in UK-based cricket trips and festivals as well as longer haul tours.
The hockey programme aims to provide an environment in which every student has a rewarding experience. The high quality of our coaching and excellent facilities enables players to fulfil their performance potential.
In Years 7 and Year 8, our emphasis is on enjoying the game. Players relish learning new techniques and honing core skills with regular opportunities for seven-a-side match play.
From Years 9 to 11, we move to the 11-a-side version of the game, with a greater focus on tactical awareness and developing successful team play with pupils looking forward to representing their school teams in weekly fixtures.
We have multiple teams across all year groups and during the Michaelmas term, boys and girls also play indoor hockey. We enter all national schools competitions at U13, U14 and U16 levels, as well as the national indoor schools championships at U16, and have a proud tradition of success at county, regional and national levels.
We also aim to provide a broad range of touring experiences with both domestic and international trips including in Years 9 and 10, biannual European tours.
Although we strive for excellence in performance and attitude, we cater for all students to ensure they enjoy playing netball.
In Years 7 and 8, the focus is on enjoyment and gaining and improving core skills. Sessions are staffed by highly qualified coaches to allow every player to receive focused training and feedback during this fundamental part of their development.
In Years 9 to 11, players begin to develop a better understanding of the game by adopting a more technical viewpoint.
We field multiple teams across all year groups and enter sides in the national schools championships, where we regularly qualify for U14, U16 and U19 regional finals.
Our rugby structure allows players access to high quality coaching and plenty of opportunity to develop their skills.
In Years 7 and 8, our emphasis is on fostering a love of the game by developing a sense of confidence and competence in contact, allowing players to feel secure in their skills.
In Years 9 to 11, we encourage boys to play an expansive and enjoyable brand of rugby, developed through a games-based approach in training sessions, while focusing on developing specific skill sets for more able and dedicated players.
We run multiple teams in all year groups, but the highlight of our rugby programme is the opportunity to tour. Our U12 and U13 weekend mini-tours are open to all and highly popular.
Our tennis programme enjoys high levels of participation and we coach our teams largely in doubles match play. Pupils playing tennis are organised into groups – the team squad, the development squad and the beginners.
There are tennis teams in every age group and we enter the national schools team competition (AEGON Cup) in the Lower and Middle School for both girls and boys. We also host a tennis tournament for U14 girls’ and boys’ teams and have a European pre-season tour for Years 9 and 10 boys and girls each year.
Pupils in Year 9 have the opportunity to partake in football as a games option. This is complemented by a range of local fixtures, as well as entry into the Cambridge Schools Cup.
Swimming is a part of the PE curriculum in Years 7, 8, and 9 and is offered as a games option in Years 10 and 11.
We offer two swimming club sessions each week, one before school and one after school. Both sessions are open to all year groups.
Additionally, the school participates in the ESSA Relays and the John Nalson Cup. We plan to expand the fixture programme in the future.
Athletics – Pupils can compete in several athletics meetings for the school during the season.
Badminton – Our weekly lunchtime club is open to all.
Basketball – Weekly sessions run at lunchtimes for all year groups. After-school training sessions take place for teams, with competitive fixtures for pupils from Year 9 upwards.
Cross Country – We have teams for all age groups and compete regularly in local and national competitions. Meanwhile, our after-school Perse Runners group provides an informal opportunity to all ages to enjoy a short group run in the local area. We also offer an inclusive Couch to 5km programme for those wishing to take up running.
Fitness – We have a strength and conditioning coach who runs lunchtime and after-school clubs for students who wish to follow a fitness programme.
Golf –The most able golfers at school can represent the school in selected competitions over the year.
Orienteering – We enter teams into the national school championships every year.
Rowing – Students benefit from a blended games programme that includes both land‑based ergometer sessions and on‑the‑river training. Pupils who train regularly outside of school are further supported through bespoke Strength & Conditioning provision and the school’s Talented Athlete Programme (TAP), ensuring they can develop physically, technically and holistically alongside their academic studies.
Shooting – Lunchtime sessions with a professional coach are open to all ages in our dedicated range, with the opportunity to take part in national competitions.
Table tennis – After-school sessions for all take place once a week, while we also have four outdoor tables available for use at any time.
Elite Sport
We strongly support our talented pupils who wish to achieve sporting excellence in their chosen sports.
Pupils who show a keen interest in their sport are encouraged to join local clubs and those who demonstrate a high potential are put forward for county and regional pathways.
Many of our pupils (past and present) have competed at a national level, whether part of a national governing body age group performance pathway or through representing the school at national final competitions.
Read more about some of our elite sports programme and partnerships here
The Perse Sports Centre
Discover more about our brand-new Perse Sports Centre featuring 25-metre swimming pool, 10.5-metre climbing wall, bouldering facilities, sports courts and indoor sports hall.
Arts & Music
From orchestras and ensembles to productions and technical theatre, pupils have opportunities to develop their talents, explore new interests and perform with confidence.
If you cannot visit us in person, please take a look at our virtual 360 tour of The Perse Upper School.
We hold two open events each year, in the autumn and summer, for families interested in learning more about The Perse.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch and make an enquiry, we would be delighted to hear from you.