By Dan Pettifer, Head of Sport

When I meet with a new set of prospective parents, or even occasionally the student, they sometimes express concerns about not accessing our teams because we are seen as a high achieving ‘sporty’ school. I would like to explore this common misconception in this article, highlighting how the breadth and depth of our sporting offer extends to all our teams.

The Revolving Door

I was recently asked about my sporting philosophy and what is most important to sport at Taunton School. I did not pause or hesitate (having given it a lot of thought upon taking up the role) before replying that everyone one should be able to achieve their personal best, have a lifelong enjoyment of sport and be a good person. For one student their personal best could be representing their country and for another it could be representing a C team at school.

I work closely with every Head of Sport to ensure that the development of the individual takes priority over that of the team, whilst recognising and respecting each sport’s own team objectives and collective identity.

We call it the revolving door of opportunity, where students train in larger squads in our longer (for seniors) Tuesday games session, using Thursday sessions as match preparation for Saturday, focusing on smaller starting squads. This allows coaches to work with a wider cohort of students and makes identification of effort more visible. Sometimes students need a rest from the hardest week-on-week challenges. Either to build fitness, if returning from injury/ illness, or maybe confidence. Either way this opens the door for another student to create an ignition moment that could trigger the motivation and dedication required to succeed at a higher level.

Added to this, our Heads of Sport and performance coaches work with all junior teams throughout the season, rotating between A, B and C teams from session to session.

A young person’s education is poorer if they are deprived of the chance to develop and compete in sport, whatever their ability level. We know that young people enjoy and thrive off competition. It pushes them to work harder, so we provide every student with the opportunity to represent the school. Across Taunton School’s core sports, students at all levels and age groups have the opportunity to compete, with a fixture schedule designed to challenge, not one that simply leads to an unbeaten season.

The Experience

A student may not immediately break into the first team or A team, despite them having been top of the game at prep school level, but our coaches provide direction, encouragement and inspiration to unlock the potential in every student.

How better to prepare students for the setbacks that life will inevitably throw at them, than by teaching them the importance of hard work, perseverance, and grit? How to stay grounded, develop resilience, integrity and tenacity.

Another question I am asked and, in turn, ask the Heads of Sport, is how do you measure success? Once again, an easy answer. Success in sport is celebrated through team performance, but also through an individual excelling by achieving beyond their own expectations and setting personal bests. If the sporting process that takes place is strong and robust, and the day-to-day experience is rewarding, the ‘mood in camp’ remains strong and the results, eventually, look after themselves.

Representing the school and becoming part of Team Taunton is integral to creating a sense of belonging. Becoming part of the Taunton School Story, where you can feel a connection to our past, become part of its future, and where you can create memories with friends you may have for the rest of your life. These stories stick with you and your friends for life; they grow character, confidence and identity. The level of representation does not matter; just that you represented!

Sam’s Story – Year 11 Student Sam Sheasby – U16A Team Rugby.

My name is Sam and I joined Taunton in Year 9. Before I came to Taunton I attended a small school near Bristol, that did play sport, but to a lower level than Taunton. When I joined Taunton I was excited by the opportunities that my Sports Scholarship, which I was privileged to receive, opened up for me and I was excited by the prospect of representing my school at the highest level for my chosen sport, Rugby. At first, I was put into the U14Bs but, with the help of the fantastic rugby coaches and athletic development, I was able to play a cup game for the U15As; I am now a member of the U16As and I am excited about what the future holds regarding my rugby. I will always be thankful for the support that was given to me, regarding my sport, at the very start of my time at Taunton. I have loved my time at Taunton so far and am excited for what the current season has in store.