Sport

Sports at Herries:

At Herries, we believe that a healthy body supports a healthy mind, which is why sport and exercise play an essential role in the children’s daily lives. Every child is encouraged to participate regularly in teams, fostering the development of abilities across all skill levels, not just the most gifted. Through sports, children learn teamwork, competitiveness, resilience, and sportsmanship. Whether in mixed or separate teams, we encourage both boys and girls to participate in all sports, aiming for each child to leave Herries with a passion for at least one sport by the end of Year 6.

Herries is proud to be part of the Independent School Association (ISA), which allows our students to engage in regular fixtures against other schools at venues such as Bisham Abbey, Cookham Dean Cricket Club, or away grounds. Our students also participate in ISA swimming galas, with some advancing to national finals and winning ISA tournaments. Additionally, a number of our pupils play sports at the county level, reflecting the strong athletic foundation Herries provides.

Swimming is a key part of the curriculum for all children from Reception to Year 6. Our younger students attend lessons at Court Garden Marlow Swimming Pool, while the older children swim at Wycombe Leisure Centre’s state-of-the-art 50-metre pool. The children are grouped by ability and coached accordingly, with termly inter-house and ISA swimming galas offering further opportunities for competition.

Herries has a comprehensive Games programme both during and after school hours. We have a partnership with Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, where students practice football, touch rugby, and hockey twice a week. Netball and gymnastics take place within the school grounds, while cricket and athletics are held at Cookham Dean Cricket Club. In the Summer term, older children run through the fields to Cookham Dean Cricket Club twice a week, and this local facility also hosts our annual sports day for all students from Nursery to Year 6.

Throughout the Autumn and Spring terms, the focus is on swimming, hockey, touch rugby, netball, and football, using Bisham Abbey and local leisure centres. In the Summer term, the programme shifts to swimming, athletics, tennis, and cricket, making full use of the Cookham Dean Cricket Club and Herries grounds.

Physical Education is taught across the school from Nursery to Year 6 by Mr Denton, our Head of Sports, supported by Mr Williamson and Miss Masters. Twice a week, children are instructed in core skills, learning how to move and coordinate their bodies, ensuring they build a solid physical foundation as they grow.