From state-of-the-art spaces to opportunities to thrive, the schools across Leeds and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer sporting enthusiasts. JLife takes a snapshot glimpse at just a few.
Leeds Jewish Free School
Despite initially opening with eight pioneering pupils, Leeds Jewish Free School (LJFS) has proceeded to pick up momentum, and in 2015 the numbers have risen to 25 pupils.
In terms of exercising opportunities, LJFS shares a site not only with Brodetsky Primary School and Deborah Taylor Nursery, but also with The Zone which provides an extensive helping of extra-curricular activities. All students of LJFS have access to The Zone after school hours, replacing travel time with opportunities for further learning and a strong social life.
As well as that, sports are offered to students both within the curriculum and voluntarily as extra-curricular activities. Where one of the students demonstrates they have a sporting talent, LJFS is committed to helping the student access coaching to further develop and nurture their talents. Where a student is already involved in high level or elite sporting activities, the school ensures appropriate school-based guidance is offered to ensure they meet the demands of school study and their chosen sporting discipline.
The school, The Zone and Leeds Maccabi Football club operate together to develop a rich level of sports provision.
Visit Ljfs.org.
Richmond House School
Richmond House School is an independent co-educational preparatory school providing a high standard of education for children aged three to 11 years.
Sport and exercise are an integral part of life at the school in which the staff actively encourages children of all ages to participate in a variety of pursuits.
Games and PE lessons are geared towards participation, enjoyment, developing team-working skills and achieving a high level of performance. Additionally, Richmond House School operates an inclusive sports policy whatever a child’s ability and with the wide range of sporting activities provided, all children can find a sport they are interested in.
The school is equipped with excellent sports facilities including 10 acres of playing fields, providing plenty of space for cross country running and incorporating football and rugby pitches, a cricket square, netball and tennis courts, athletics facilities, two pavilions and, uniquely, crown green bowling and petanque facilities. As well as the on-site offerings, students can make use of local venues for swimming, badminton and squash.
For those wishing to showcase their competitive spirit, inter-house tournaments in football, netball, rugby and rounders are available for entry.
Visit Rhschool.org.
Rossett School
Rossett School provides a high quality, inspirational learning experience for young people from a wide variety of backgrounds in a comprehensive school.
While academic excellence is of real importance, the school has recently benefitted from a £1 million refurbishment and is proud of its extensive range of extra-curricular activities and opportunities to learn outside the classroom too.
PE is currently taught by a team of 12, and the faculty has an impressive sport centre together with a floodlit artificial 3G pitch, a large sports hall with indoor cricket nets, a gymnasium, and two squash courts. This is in addition to three grass soccer pitches, a grass rugby pitch, and an indoor climbing wall among other sporting equipment.
The sports faculty has a very strong reputation both in school and beyond and has established a considerable record of success across many sporting areas, especially football, rugby, hockey, tennis, cricket and athletics. Fixtures are extensive in most team games and there is an active house competition system within the school. Recently, the sporting provision has been further enhanced with the introduction of cheerleading, gymnastics, table tennis, trampolining, and dance.
Visit Rossettschool.co.uk.
Gateways School
Gateways School is an independent school located in a delightful rural area on a 20-acre site in Harewood village between Leeds and Harrogate, welcoming girls aged two to 18 and boys aged two to 11.
The large sports hall houses a well-equipped fitness suite which includes a number of exercise machines. The hall is marked for netball, basketball, indoor hockey, badminton and volleyball, and there is also a mini climbing wall and a new dance studio equipped with a fully sprung floor and ballet bars. The studio is for use by all pupils from nursery right through to Sixth Form and is available to hire in the evenings and during the school holiday periods.
The school’s other remarkable sports facilities incorporate rugby pitches, substantial playing fields, and orienteering courses.
Visit Gatewaysschool.co.uk.
The Mount School
The Mount is the UK’s only Quaker school for girls, and, with outstanding academic results, it consistently performs well in all league tables and is independently ranked as a UK top 100 school.
The sports hall, indoor swimming pool, fitness suite and sports pitches enable girls to swim, play hockey, netball, tennis, athletics, rounders and volleyball. Meanwhile, optional activities include fencing, judo, dance, football, ultimate frisbee and cross country, demonstrating that there really is something for everyone.
The school has secured respectable and broad competitive standings – Mount girls currently represent York, North Yorkshire and Great Britain at netball, cross country, biathlon and hockey.
Visit Mountschoolyork.co.uk.
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