Ardingly seeks to foster a lifelong love of sport for all our students, whatever their level, while ensuring that our top teams in our major sports compete at the highest level, both locally and nationally.
“Many pupils achieve highly in a wide range of team and individual sports."
Choice of Sports
We offer students the choice of more than 25 different sports in the hope that every student will find a sport they enjoy and continue with when they leave school.
Our major sports, for both girls and boys, are football, hockey, cricket and swimming. We also offer a wide range of other sports including netball (girls only), tennis, athletics, fencing, basketball, climbing, cross country, table tennis, golf, rowing, badminton, squash, judo, volley-ball, touch rugby and others available through our extensive Enrichment Programme.
Sports Facilities & Staff
Our inspiring team of sports teachers includes a former Manchester United football player and academy coach, a four times World Champion and Olympic swimmer, three former international hockey players, and a county cricket player and coach.
Our 240 acre campus provides a wide range of sporting facilities including: a 25-metre swimming pool, two well-equipped indoor sports halls, a floodlit multi-purpose astro turf plus a separate hocky astro turf, 6 netball/tennis courts, 2 cricket pitches, a 1st team football pitch, over 12 grass sports pitches, a 400m grass athletics track, field event facilities, a squash court and a state-of-the-art Strength & Conditioning centre.
We are also fortunate to have the Ardingly Reservoir on our doorstep for a range of watersports.
An Inclusive Approach
Ardingly’s inclusive sports programme encourages participation in weekly matches. Saturday fixtures allow most students to represent the school, with teams of varying abilities ensuring everyone can compete and contribute. While our A teams often win cups and medals, the focus is on enjoyment, encouraging team spirit and positive experiences for all.
House sport competitions are always a highlight, fostering fun and camaraderie across year groups, including the annual Steepo cross-country race and Sports Day events.
Performance Pathway & Scholarships
For our most talented athletes, the Performance Pathway offers additional sessions and a bespoke training programme. Many, but not all, of these students are sports scholars, receiving personalised training and mentorship working alongside student tutors to balance academic and sporting commitments.
Sports scholarships are available at 11+, 13+, and 16+ . The George Brann Scholarships for Sixth Form students offer significant fee reductions for top talents in Hockey, Football, Cricket, and Swimming. For more details, please see our Scholarships information.
Discover more about our exceptional sports programme and how we support every child’s athletic journey by clicking through to our digital prospectus.
