Media Pack - Amazon S3€¦ · in swimming, squash, badminton, soccer and road running. We also...

Celebrating sporting achievement and innovation within independent schools

Published by Wildfire Comms.

WelcomeNEWS: school sporting achievements, appointments and facilities

COMMENT: independent school leaders share their opinions on topics such as sportswear, sport for girls, competitive sport and more

FEATURES: three topics explored in more detail in every issue

SPORT SPECIAL: from rugby to athletics, each issue focuses on a particular sport with an exclusive alumnus interview

INTERVIEWS: directors of sport shed light on the changing landscape of sports education

In every issue

Media Pack

Independent School Sport (ISS) is distributed within sister title Independent Education Today, the market-leading media platform for leaders of independent schools working in the UK and internationally. As sport is an integral part of independent school life, this termly magazine focuses on news, opinion pieces, interviews and informative features related to independent school sport.

With its unique audience of headteachers, deputy heads, heads of PE and bursars, ISS features a wealth of influential content all created to support educators.

Audience

HEADTEACHERS & DEPUTY HEADS

51%

BUSINESS MANGER2%

Job titles

ie-today.co.uk/iss facebook.com/ietoday | @ISS_magazine | Independent School Sports Download our podcast: The Education Station

HEAD OF PE

21%CHAIR3%

DIRECTOR1%

ESTATES MANAGER6%

FACILITIES MANAGER6%

FINANCE DIRECTOR2%

PROPRIETER1%BURSAR

6%ADMINISTRATOR1%

50 | ie-today.co.uk | @ISS_magazine

profile

Andrew Le Chevalier (centre) with former upper sixth students Ollie Stonham and Ellie Lennon

@ISS_magazine | ie-today.co.uk | 51

profile

In 10 years as Felsted School’s director of rugby, former Wasps, Swansea and Grenoble prop Andrew Le Chevalier has turned the Essex boarding school into a powerhouse of

the game, producing a steady stream of professional players and even an England captain or two, says Nicky Adams

R unning out onto the pitch at Twickenham as captain of 2016’s World Cup-winning England under-20s team, Max

Malins became one in an increasingly long line-out of former Felsted students to hit rugby’s big time. In 10 short years as the school’s director of rugby, ex-professional player Andrew Le Chevalier has successfully created Felsted’s own rugby programme, identifying and developing young players and putting them on an increasingly well-trodden path towards the game’s top level.

“School rugby is becoming much more competitive – every year there’s a new opponent who wants to knock you off your perch,” says Le Chevalier.

He continues: “Like at most clubs, at a school there is often an idea that you have to have a winning first team. That’s important, because the headlining team is what makes talented players want to come to the school, but you only have to look at South Africa and the other great rugby nations to see that grass roots programmes are the way to

Felsted: a rugby powerhouse

ensure a steady stream of top-class players.”When Le Chevalier arrived at Felsted

in 2009 at the conclusion of his own professional rugby career, he quickly realised the importance of looking at the rugby talent coming up. “I start at year 5, the under-10s,” he says. “From there you start to build the techniques and a rolling ethos of success in the game. So I don’t just coach the first team – I’m coaching everywhere, to lay the foundations for the future.”

At Felsted, an all-through co-educational boarding and day school of 1,000 pupils, surrounded by rugby pitches in the north Essex countryside, the first 15 is not exclusively for sixth formers.

“Often year 11s are good enough,” says Le Chevalier. “The older players act as leaders and mentor the younger ones, who are being exposed to two extra years of senior rugby and the inspiration to push on and take over the mantle when the time comes. This gives them a better opportunity to develop into all-round players, both physically and mentally.”

This approach is certainly taking Felsted


special report

Standards in independent school sport are skyrocketing with cleverly designed programmes, experienced coaches and outstanding facilities all helping to deliver high-quality sports education

across the country. After an exciting year, 2020 will see independent schools face new challenges and embark upon many landmark sporting events.

For Debbie Skene, Rugby School’s director of sport, 2020 will see pupils take part in what is commonly referred to amongst students and staff as a ‘bucket list’ event.

“In March 2020 we will run our 181st Crick Run – a 10-mile cross-country run that starts in Crick and finishes on The Close at Rugby School,” says Skene. “Students name this the ‘bucket list’ event to complete before leaving Rugby. It’s open to senior students, Rugbeians, staff and parents, and each year the number of entries is greater.

“We will also be hosting the U16 Rugby Academy tournament on behalf of Wasps, Sale, Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers. It’s a three-day festival and education programme, with the best U16 rugby players in the country attending.

“In June, we host the IAPS national tennis competition – a two-day event to find the best junior tennis players in the country. And in July we will be taking 40 boys and girls to Singapore and Australia on a three-week rugby, netball and hockey tour.”

At King Edward’s Witley, 2020 will be “the year of inclusivity”, the school’s director of sport tells me.

“A revamped, all-inclusive Sports Day Festival with a huge parental presence is in the preparation phase as well as surfing trips, event visits, sports tours (regardless of ability) and ‘alternative’ sport provision all taking the forefront,” says Phil Miller.

Having a sports council who can feed information back to the department has led to a number of initiatives to engage pupils in sport

King Edward’s Witley aims to satisfy the needs of every pupil

Rugby School will host a tennis competition in June


special report

Work togetherA great way to deliver enriching sports provision is to work with external sporting organisations. It enables the school to expand opportunities for pupils as it brings in more than the school can offer on its own.

Skene explains how this works at Rugby School: “We have close associations with the Wasps, Tigers and Saints rugby teams who provide coaches to work with our students during term time.

“Many of our talented athletes have been selected by their academies. Wasps also run coaching camps at Rugby School during the holidays. During the Easter holidays we will be hosting an U16 Wasps, Tigers, Saints and Sharks academies festival at the school.

“We host the Wasps netball U19 academy and the Warwickshire netball U13 county netball academy training. Both organisations also hold coaching camps at Rugby School during the holidays and provide coaches to work with our students during term.

“Our students are given access to Warwick University sports centre to train alongside Wasps coaches and players. Our hockey teams work with MT13 hockey who provide elite coaches as well as coaching camps during the holidays and access to Nottingham University’s training camps. We also work closely with Coventry University and their physiotherapy department.

“We have links with Warwickshire Cricket Club who choose Rugby School as a home ground for their academy teams and collaborate on training programmes for our

cricketers. We also share our facilities with the local athletics club whose coach works with our students.”

Miller says King Edward’s Witley works with a large number of sports organisations to bring in high-quality coaches for both elite and recreational activities.

He explains: “Tennis is a prime example for our elite performers where a former Davis Cup player, as well as a former hitting partner of Martina Hingis, form our main coaching team.

“We also have a large presence of external coaches to provide immense breadth to our co-curricular programme. These include activities such as boxercise, rock climbing and dance.”

Fun and healthAlthough competitive sports form a major part of school sport, it is important for schools to look at the non-competitive, recreational activities they offer pupils too.

In fact, David Byrne, director of sport at Bede’s Senior School, says non-competitive sport should take a more prominent role within school sports programmes (read the full article on page 23).

Skene believes both are equally important in Rugby School’s curriculum. She says: “There are both recreational options and competitive opportunities in swimming, squash, badminton, soccer and road running. We also offer Pilates, aerobics and circuit training. Students who do not wish to take part in competitive sport still value the importance of

King Edward’s Witley’s sports provision is pupil-led Rugby School’s hockey teams work with MT13 coaches

Features list and deadlines

Media Pack

SUMMER 2020 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: 28 FEBRUARYADVERTISING DEADLINE: 6 MARCH

SPECIAL REPORT: The school’s role in educating Olympic student-athletesFOCUS: How are independent schools opening their top sports facilities to the wider community?INSIGHT: Get to know independent schools’ directors of sport and their goalsATHLETICS SPECIAL: Exclusive interview with an independent school alumnus about how their school life shaped their career in athletics




WINTER 2020 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: 4 SEPTEMBERADVERTISING DEADLINE: 11 SEPTEMBER

SPECIAL REPORT: How can sport make a difference to pupils’ mental health?FOCUS: The impact of the right kit on pupils’ sports performance INSIGHT: How do schools choose the right surfacing?HOCKEY SPECIAL: Exclusive interview with an independent school alumnus about how their school life shaped their career in hockey


sport and the wider curriculum

Net gains: promoting academic success and wellbeing through sport

Jo Hackett, director of sport at Loughborough Schools Foundation, looks at the role sport plays in supporting pupil wellbeing and academic success – and how to engage those who are more reluctant

R eaders of this magazine, perhaps keen sportsmen and women themselves, know how rewarding it is to watch pupils running

around the hockey pitch, tackling a muddy cross-country course or going head-to-head with other schools at swimming galas.

School is the perfect place for children to try new activities and develop the fitness, strength and mindset that will serve them well, both in sport and in life. It is no secret that people who are physically active have a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and many more conditions.

Despite overwhelming evidence that exercise is good for us, society is still letting the next generation down by not making it part of their lives. It doesn’t help, of course, that some schools have been forced to sell off

“Endorphins released during exercise lift the mood and clear the mind,” says Hackett

Teenage girls can be reluctant to participate in PE lessons


sport and the wider curriculum

playing fields, nor that PE might be deemed less important than core academic subjects.

Yet there is good reason why discussions around sport focus as much on mental as physical health. Endorphins released during exercise lift the mood and clear the mind, helping pupils to reduce stress, process ideas and be more productive in their academic work.

An hour spent away from the classroom, coursework or revision is well worth it if it means young people return refreshed, relaxed and ready to learn. Not only that but they are also developing the skills and attributes needed throughout life, from tactics and teamwork, to adaptability, resilience and confidence.

Team sports and activities play a large part

in our provision at Loughborough Schools Foundation (LSF) and here is where pupils can gain so much insight into working with others; it is widely believed that this is the learning ground for resilience and how to overcome adversity. It helps students when they leave school and enter the world of further education and later employment.

ENCOURAGING ALLEngaging pupils with a natural ability and passion for sport is one thing – but what about those who are more reluctant, perhaps because they dislike competition, are worried they lack skills and/or struggle with body confidence?

Teenage girls, as every PE teacher knows, are among the hard-to-reach groups, not least because they are at a stage in their development when they are likely to feel insecure about their appearance.

But, with a little creativity, we can overcome whatever barriers they face.

At one school I worked at, we came up with the idea of blacking out the gym and playing a game of glow-in-the-dark dodgeball by attaching glowsticks to our clothes and the equipment. With a broad range of activities, that could include

Zumba, spinning, dance and non-competitive jogging, you can motivate those who don’t like traditional school sports.

Sporting provision today is about thinking outside the box and ensuring that there is something to engage and interest everyone and develop a lifelong love of exercise.

Loughborough Amherst School is the proud home of Hahn House, a boarding house for the country’s junior tennis stars, which opened in September. Working in partnership with Loughborough University and the Lawn Tennis Association, we are looking forward to supporting future champions both on the tennis court and in the academic studies.

Not every child can be a world tennis ace, but they should be encouraged to

Sporting provision today is about thinking outside the box and ensuring that there is something to engage and interest everyone and develop a lifelong love of exercise

develop a lifelong love of sport, and be inspired by positive role models, during their school years. By promoting a strong culture around physical exercise, which is inclusive yet still challenges pupils, they are empowered to improve their own health and wellbeing, now and later in life.

Last, but certainly not least, the benefits of sport should not be limited to timetabled PE classes for pupils nor even extra-curricular clubs and matches. This is why we encourage our staff to use the facilities at the school and also host fitness classes, sporting events and activity days. In so doing, we hope more people will have an opportunity to look after their mental and physical health, and support others to do the same.

“The benefits of sport should not be limited to timetabled PE classes,” says Hackett

Team sports play a large part in the school’s provision


rugby special – profile

O’Conor was born in Sydney, Australia


Eastbourne College were keen to help me in my request to talk to their former pupil, Piers O’Conor, 24. After a quick check with Bristol

Bears, the rugby union club O’Conor currently plays for, it was set. Busy preparing for the new Premiership season, O’Conor told me about his career so far and I found that his high level of ambition is coupled with a strong desire to stay connected to his former school – where he developed as a rugby player. He’s also entirely aware that you have to work hard to get what you want.

O’Conor found his passion for rugby even before Eastbourne College. He started playing at seven years old when his dad took him to Lewes Rugby Football Club. While he doesn’t remember exactly what he enjoyed about it initially, he knows the nature of competitive sports is essential for him.

“I’ve always enjoyed all sports and I’m quite a competitive person,” says O’Conor, continuing: “I don’t remember exactly what I most enjoyed about playing rugby at first, but I’d probably say the competitive nature was a big part of it, in whatever sport I was playing. I just wanted to play and compete against other people.”

rugby special – profile

Step up,

Jo Golding speaks to Piers O’Conor, English rugby union fullback for Bristol Bears, before he starts the new 2019/20 Premiership season, about how Eastbourne College gave him the opportunity to pursue his dream

work hard


latest

Taunton one of the youngest teams to complete English Channel swimTwelve girls and boys from

Taunton Preparatory School in Somerset

have swum the English Channel and are one of the youngest teams ever to complete it.

Swimming in two teams of six, they set off from the shores of Dover and accomplished the 21-mile Relay Team Crossing largely during the night through choppy waters,

arriving in France at sunrise.The Channel 4 celebrity

‘Sink or Swim’ team set off at the same time as the pupils, so they were able to get advice from Ross Edgley, the celebrity team’s coach.

The money raised will go to The Neonatal Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton. Many of the students were born at the maternity unit

Netball team returns from Singapore and Australia tourNetball players from Bromsgrove School have enjoyed a tour of Singapore and Australia.

The tour started in Singapore, where they visited the nature park Gardens by the Bay, caught the cable car to Sentosa Island, played against the Singapore U19 and U17 National netball teams in their national stadium and enjoyed lunch at Singapore Cricket Club.

The netballers then travelled to Perth, with four teams representing the school in four matches. The pupils also enjoyed the wildlife there, feeding kangaroos and taking photos

with koalas and other animals.Emma Buckingham, head

of girls’ PE and games at the school, said: “Our pupils have thoroughly enjoyed their action-packed trip. After jet boats in Sydney Harbour, visits to the Opera House, Botanical Gardens, Manly, Darling Harbour and climbing the spectacular Harbour Bridge, they enjoyed a training session at the Olympic Park and were blown away by the impressive facilities.

“From Sydney, we travelled up to Cairns for our last set of matches. We also explored Kuranda in the Rainforest and had an incredible day

snorkelling, taking in the underwater sights from a submarine and glass-bottomed

in Musgrove and so far, they have raised almost £5,000.

The squad began their endurance pool-based training in May 2018 and then undertook acclimatisation training at Wiveliscombe outdoor pool over the Christmas holidays. Since then they have completed over 300 hours each of training in Clevedon and Lyme Regis, as well as in

boat at the Great Barrier Reef. Everyone has created memories that will last a lifetime.”

the school’s two swimming pools several times a week.

The students were supported by Taunton School’s long-distance swim coach Hamish McCarthy, who is an experienced open water swimming coach.

McCarthy said: “When you’re 10 years of age and you make the decision to train for the English Channel it’s aspirational; when you are then 12 and swim most of it at night it’s just extraordinary, a great feat of courage and resilience.

“I believe our students are one of the youngest teams to have undertaken a Channel relay swim since the rules changed some 30 years ago. Many of our pupils only turned 12 in July and August. Having spoken to Channel Swimming and Pilots Federation staff, they didn’t know of another team that has been younger. It really is an incredibly overwhelming achievement.”

Bromsgrove School netballers

The Channel swimmers


Lomond’s sailing ambassador inspires pupilsTokyo 2020 Olympic

hopeful Anna Burnet returned to Lomond

School recently to deliver a talk to pupils on her career so far.

The former pupil, who has also taken on the role of sailing ambassador for Lomond School, spoke to Lomond’s keen sailors, and those interested in what it takes to become an elite athlete, about her sailing journey.

Burnet provided the pupils with tips on balancing school work with competitive sailing, finding the right boat for your body type and finding the perfect sailing partner.

Now sailing a challenging

Rydal to host Marylebone Cricket Club for fourth yearRydal Penrhos will once again host a national coaching initiative throughout the winter months.

The school will be the venue for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Foundation Hub’s North Wales base.

It offers high-quality cricket coaching to talented children in the state school system, who have displayed the potential to become good cricketers.

The MCC will fund three coaches for 25 two-hour sessions at the school, which equates to a session every week in the off-season.

This is the fourth successive year the MCC will be using Rydal Penrhos as their venue, which has gone from strength-to-strength since its inception.

Director of sport at Rydal Penrhos Allen Boyd said about the: “We are thrilled to be hosting the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation Hub at Rydal Penrhos once again, which provides expert coaching to aspiring state school cricketers to aid their development considerably.

“This has been nothing short of a roaring success in the region and across the country.

“We are honoured to host the project at our fantastic facilities.”

The hubs are put together, funded and mentored by the MCC Foundation.

Ashville pupil heads to Florida to represent Team GBAn Ashville College pupil is heading to Florida this October to represent Team GB in the Biathle World Championships.

Jacob Brown, 12, was one of several Ashville pupils to compete in the recent British Biathle Championships, at Salford Quays, Manchester, where he finished fifth in the U13 level.

Unlike a biathlon, this is a continual event consisting of

a 400m run, with a transition area (as with a triathlon) before a 50m swim and another 400m run to finish.

Duncan Archer, head of swimming and athletics at Ashville, said: “We are delighted with Jacob’s achievement at the British Biathle Championships, which has seen him qualify for October’s world championships taking place in St Petersburg, Florida.”

foiling Nacra 17 multihull, she also showed pupils videos of her gliding through the water and spoke of the importance of training, discussing her regimented training schedule that has allowed her to grasp a new style of sailing.

Burnet and her sailing partner John Gimson have been spending five hours on the water per day, training 300 days per year, in the lead up to their bid for the Olympics.

Sailing is part of the school curriculum at Lomond School as part of a focus on adventure, taught on its own fleet of dinghies and in

partnership with RNCYC.Johanna Urquhart, principal

of Lomond School, said: “It was absolutely fantastic to have Anna back for the day, hearing first-hand about her successes since leaving Lomond and what the future holds.

“Sailing is one of our most popular activities and a lot of our pupils are working towards their own success stories within the world of sport, so they were all really excited to hear from an elite athlete about her own experiences.

“We wish Anna all the best and will be supporting her journey along the way.”

This is the fourth year the MCC will be using Rydal Penrhos as their venue

Jacob Brown

Anna Burnet (centre)

latest

SIZE 1 ISSUE

DISPLAY

Quarter page £540

Third page £720

Half page £1,080

Full page £1,500

Double page spread £2,400

Magazine facts

Print circulation

Termly

3,560

5,560

Distributed at over 8 key eventsEvents

Monthly readership

Frequency

Magazine rate card

FEATURE SPONSORSHIP 1 ISSUE

Sponsor sandwich £1,920 (2x full page adverts either side of article, column, logo throughout article) * prices do not include VAT

Media Pack


SIZE 1 ISSUE

SPECIAL POSITIONS

1st double page spread £3,186

Inside front cover £2,040

Inside back cover £1,800

Outside back cover £2,040

1st right-hand page £1,620

False front cover £3,000Discount offered for series bookings. Please contact us for details

Digital facts

E-Newsletter

12,000

Fortnightly email communication to over 2,000 subscribers

facebook.com/ietoday @ISS_Magazine Independent School Sports

Twitter: 1,284Social Media

Find us on:

Website UsersDigital rate cardWEBSITE

POSITION RATE

Super leaderboard £500

Leaderboard £400

Skyscraper £700

Reskin (skyscraper & Super leaderboard) £1,000

Enhanced profile in marketplace £83

NEWSLETTER

POSITION RATE

E-newsletter sponsor button £75

E-newsletter leader banner £400

Solus e-shots £800

* prices do not include VAT



Meet the team

Jo [email protected]

Fiona CowanKEY ACCOUNT [email protected]

Jason HewittACCOUNT [email protected]

Damien BurnettMARKETING [email protected]

Call us on: 0117 300 5526

Media Pack

Our other titles

universitybusiness.co.uk

edtechnology.co.uk

For more information visit:marketingtoeducation.com

ie-today.co.uk/iss facebook.com/ietoday | @ISS_magazine | Independent School Sports

Published by Wildfire Comms. Download our podcast: The Education Station


ie-today.co.uk

Media Pack - Amazon S3€¦ · in swimming, squash, badminton, soccer and road running. We also...

Documents

Transcript of Media Pack - Amazon S3€¦ · in swimming, squash, badminton, soccer and road running. We also...