New Hall Secures 13th Spot in Top 200 Sporting Schools List
Sport hit the headlines at New Hall, having secured an impressive 13th place in the School Sports Magazine ‘Top 200 Sporting Schools of 2024’. The list ranks the performance of both state and independent schools in the UK, across 20 different sports, and over 120 different events. This is the third year in a row that New Hall has been recognised for its outstanding sports achievements, climbing the ranking from 24th place in 2023.
“Sport is central to life at New Hall. It teaches children of all ages and abilities discipline, communication, and teamwork, and helps to build character. This achievement is a testament to the impressive talent and commitment of our students, and the dedication of our coaches and staff. I am very proud of our team,” commented Mr Jason Bigara, Director of Sport at New Hall School.
New Hall combines an inclusive ‘sport for all’ ethos with an elite training programme, as well as access to outstanding facilities, including eight floodlit tennis and netball courts, a 3G rugby training pitch, athletics track, 25m 6-lane indoor pool, ten tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness suite. New Hall was named in The Cricketer’s Top 100 Schools for 2024 as well as achieving World School Games Platinum Status, after an exceptionally successful year across the twelve co-curricular sports offered at New Hall.
The school boasts an enviable record of success in both individual and team sports, competing at country, regional and national level. In the last year alone, Olivia Forrest (Year 11) secured a bronze medal representing Team GB in the European Athletics U18 Championships, Alexander Penneck (Year 13) earned the overall title at the British Ski Championships, while Archie Tebbutt (Year 9) won gold at the National Schools Biathlon.
With New Hall providing the best start in life for a sportsperson, many alumni continue on their path to competitive success. Each year, leavers secure multiple scholarships at renowned sporting universities. Most recently, these include Henry Styles, who accepted a Golf Scholarship at the University of San Francisco, and Ellie Blackford who is now on a full Tennis Scholarship at the University of Michigan, having played in Junior Wimbledon last year.
The Sport Departments tour internationally, broadening the students’ horizons while enhancing their athletic performance. Last summer, 54 students embarked on New Hall’s long-haul sports tour, travelling to South Africa to play netball, hockey and rugby fixtures, and take part in specialised coaching sessions with local professionals.
New Hall continues to build on its extensive co-curricular provision, having introduced Football and Basketball in the last two years, complete with dedicated, state-of-the-art courts and pitches. This term, while New Hall is expanding its Equestrian provision and onsite Learn-to-Ride Centre with a bespoke manège, further afield, the Cricket teams are embarking on tours to Sri Lanka and the UAE.
