Other Sports

Pupils with their own horses or ponies are strongly encouraged to compete for Plymouth College. We are active members of the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA), regularly supporting and participating in their dressage, show jumping and eventing competitions. Alongside these, we enter local inter-school equestrian events whenever possible, providing varied competitive experiences for our riders.

Our equestrians have achieved notable success, with pupils frequently finishing in the top three of county rounds across all three disciplines. For instance, Martha Miles and Sydney Bond  (now alumni) qualified for and competed at the prestigious National Championships at Addington Manor.

Athletics is an integral part of our sporting provision, taught to all age groups and offered as an after-school club during the summer term. To further their development, pupils are also encouraged to join local athletics clubs, benefiting from additional training opportunities. Our commitment to athletics is reflected in our pupils’ many successes.

We consistently enter teams into the Plymouth Schools’ Championships for Years 7, 8 and 9, with several pupils progressing to represent both Plymouth and Devon. It’s common for our Year 7 & 8 pupils to be selected for Team Drake at the IAPS National Athletics Championships. Recently, Year 10 pupils Molly Shorey, Jed Hutchins (silver in Junior Boys 1500m), Angus Harris and Nubia Evans-Shield (Junior Girls’ Discus Champion) all excelled at the British Schools National Championships. The annual Whole School Sports Day at Brickfields provides a vibrant day of house competition.

While Plymouth College has an international reputation for high-performance swimming, we ensure all pupils have opportunities to engage with swimming through access to our on-site 25m pool. This promotes water confidence, fitness and enjoyment for everyone, regardless of their competitive aspirations.

Pupils across all year groups can participate in house relay and individual swimming competitions, as well as the popular House Aquathlon. For those who enjoy competitive swimming outside the national squads, we organise swimming matches against other schools. Each year, Plymouth College also enters the Devon Schools Relay Gala and competes in the DRSA organised gala. Our top school swimmers have the chance to compete in the ESSA National Secondary Schools Championship relays, often progressing to the National Finals.

Dedicated run coaching is provided for a focused group of runners, modern pentathletes and track athletes, overseen by our experienced Run Coach, Andy Norris. These sessions aim to build endurance, speed and race strategy, catering to the specific needs of these committed pupils.

Training primarily takes place at nearby Central Park or Victoria Park, offering varied and challenging terrains. The content of these sessions is carefully tailored around individual event schedules and athletic goals. This typically includes structured threshold runs, shorter intense repetitions for speed development, longer intervals at VO2 Max, or steady recovery runs around Plymouth Hoe during tapering periods.

Strength & Conditioning (S&C) at Plymouth College is a vital sports science discipline focused on enhancing athleticism and minimising injury risk, led by our Head of S&C. The programme aims to equip all participating pupils and high-performance athletes with the necessary knowledge, correct movement skills and physical capacities to maximise their individual athletic potential.

S&C involves far more than simply lifting weights; we employ diverse training methods including calisthenics, gymnastics, free weights, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, plus speed, agility and cardiovascular conditioning. Adopting a ‘movement first’ approach, athletes master fundamental patterns before progressing to advanced methods, which involve detailed profiling and specific goal planning. Training primarily occurs in our modern S&C gym.

Our commitment to athlete welfare includes a comprehensive day-to-day sports science support package. The on-site Health Centre houses a fully qualified medical team, complemented by exemplary and formalised links with a dedicated physiotherapist, ensuring pupils receive excellent care, often supported by the College’s highly recommended Health Insurance scheme.

The medical team maintains regular communication with the full coaching team regarding any injuries or illnesses. Our multifaceted support team then collaborates to manage conditions effectively, perhaps by reducing training load or varying training styles. This exemplary communication between all sports science, coaching, teaching and boarding staff is key to the holistic development of our athletes.

Recognising the crucial role of mental fortitude, Plymouth College provides access to a registered and experienced sports psychologist for all athletes within our school community. This support is available either through structured group sessions or on a confidential one-to-one basis, depending on individual needs.

These specialised sessions are designed to equip pupils with valuable psychological tools. Key areas often covered include managing competitive stress and performance anxiety, effective goal setting techniques, building confidence, maintaining focus and understanding other important psychological concepts relevant to both sport and personal development.