Sport

Sport

With our extensive grounds, woodland, pitches and swimming pool, Barfield pupils experience a multitude of sports through curriculum lessons and after school clubs. We promote a love and enthusiasm for all sports and the children are given the opportunity to develop their own individual strengths, and represent Barfield to compete against other schools from Year 3 onwards. We have full use of all of the Three Peaks facilities, building on their extended range of skills, outside of the usual sports, that the children are able to develop over their time at Barfield.

We believe that sport develops a sense of fair play, teamwork, encourages confidence, builds self esteem and has an overall impact on the physical, mental and social development of our children.

In the Pre-Prep, pupils have weekly swimming and gymnastics lessons, alongside Games and Adventure sessions, leading up to taking part in Sports Day at the end of the year.

Matches are organised on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and Inter-class competitions allow all children to participate and feel part of a team. There is an open invite to parents to come along to support their children and experience the Barfield match tea. Matches are played against schools including Edgeborough, Lanesborough, Greenfield, Guildford High, Alton School, Conifers School, Cranleigh School, St Nicholas and more.

Football

Boys and girls learn the basics of football throughout the lower school, with an additional Saturday club to enhance their skills. Boys continue with football as a seasonal sport, competing against other schools; and girls have a seasonal after school club with the opportunity to take part in matches.

Netball

Both boys and girls are taught basic Netball skills in the Lower School on our two full size netball courts.

Rugby

In the Spring Term, the Lower School have an introduction to basic Rugby skills and games; while the Upper School boys develop these skills with tag and touch games. The girls in the Upper School take part in an optional after school club.

Hockey

Quick Sticks hockey is played by pupils in Year 3 and Year 4 prior to playing the full game in Year 5 and above. Unihoc is played in the Early Years Foundation Stage and up to Year 2.

Cricket

Both boys and girls develop their Cricket skills in the Summer Term. Cricket nets and a bowling machine are used alongside their training. Parents can while away blissful afternoons on deckchairs in the sun, watching their children competing against other schools, with a fabulous match tea.

Barfield was awarded recognition by the Cricketer Magazine as being one of the top 50 Prep Schools in the country for its provision of Cricket in 2019.

Tennis

Tennis in the Summer term is enjoyed by all across the multitude of grass and hard courts. From Owls upwards, the children learn the skills and progress their ability until Year 3 where they have lessons and take part in a knockout tournament within their year group. The children can often be found playing tennis in their break times, with the older children putting on quite a display on the headmaster’s lawn. They might even get a match with a passing teacher!

Swimming

Barfield children start their lessons in water confidence in our heated, indoor swimming pool and are usually able to swim without aids by the time they reach Reception. Weekly lessons ensure a love for the water, incorporating fun games and stroke development. Boys and girls regularly take part in  fixtures against other schools and a little healthy in-house rivalry in Inter House competitions. We are particularly proud of our recent success in the IAPS Swimming Nationals and have, on a regular basis, qualified for the finals in the ESSA County Competition and Schools National Final of the Aquathlon. Water polo and biathlons and triathlons are a fun addition to their pool time.

Gymnastics

We have a good selection of apparatus and mats to perform gymnastic skills in Action, Co-ordination and Balance skills. We have our own structured scheme of work which the children thoroughly enjoy progressing through. All pupils are assessed as to their competence in all the disciplines. Gymnastics is provided to all pupils in Owls up to Year 6 during the Autumn and Spring Terms.

Dance

 In the Lower School, pupils have regular Dance lessons and an after school club; with fun routines and free expression to lots of different styles of music. 

Athletics

Athletics in the Summer Term incorporates track and field events, for all Barfield children, and culminates in Sports Day at the end of the academic year. Parents and extended family are welcomed to Barfield to celebrate their childrens’ sporting achievements and enjoy tea and cakes on the terrace.

Cross Country

The Inter House Cross Country Competition involves all children in the Prep school and the Pre-Prep attempting the course within their lessons. Regular running sessions, understanding pacing and maintaining correct breathing, encourages the children to enjoy long distances.

Adventure

All boys and girls take part in Adventure sessions as part of their timetable throughout the year. Our qualified and enthusiastic Three Peaks staff encourage the pupils to push themselves, using all of the Three Peaks facilities; incorporating team building skills and promoting leadership and initiative.