Additional Sport

Tennis is an immensely popular sport on both a competitive and recreational level at St Lawrence College. Although primarily a summer term sport, the College has floodlit tennis courts, which enable teams or individuals to train throughout the year.

Tennis is enjoyed by both girls and boys at the school, although it is seen as the main performance sport for girls in the summer.

All teams train for three sessions per week although many individuals make use of the vast number of courts in their own free time during the summer months. School matches are played in the doubles format, so from an early age all pupils are encouraged to do the same in their free time. It is not unusual on a Saturday afternoon to see over twenty tennis courts in use for either competitive matches or recreational games sessions.

Badminton is a popular option for fifth and sixth form students during the Michaelmas and Lent terms and with five courts, many students can participate. Many pupils play badminton for recreational purposes only, but we also have an elite group which make up the squad who train hard and play successfully against other schools throughout Kent.

Further down the school, badminton is proving to be increasingly popular, thanks to the fantastic facilities in the Sports Hall.

Athletics at St Lawrence College is there for all, regardless of ability. Running, jumping and throwing comprise the core skills for most competitive and recreational sports, so participation enhances a pupil’s all-round sporting performance.

Cross-country in the Michaelmas term focuses on building a sound aerobic base. The inter-house fixture provides a starting point from which future goals are set. Specialised training programmes and development plans, tailored to the individual athlete, are a natural extension. Coaching is athlete-centred, with pupils encouraged to adopt a discovery approach to their own training.

We compete against other independent schools in the Granville League and locally at the Thanet Secondary Schools’ Championships. Since 2008, four of the five senior boys representing Thanet at the Kent Schools’ Cross-country Championships have been St Lawrence College pupils.

During the Lent term, our athletes begin more specialised training in event groups working towards summer track and field competition. The Sports Hall facilitates event-specific strength and conditioning sessions to complement technical training, especially for throw and jump disciplines.

In the Summer term, our inter-house Sports Day is eagerly anticipated and hotly contested. We have won six of the last eight Granville League trophies and the senior squad has an annual fixture against DYRMS and King’s Canterbury. Last year, our athletes also won three gold and a host of other medals at the Thanet Secondary Schools’ Championships.

Those athletes thought capable of attaining AAA National Standards are encouraged to enter graded open events via our established links with local clubs. The Kent Schools’ and Inter-County events provide a progressive pathway towards the National Schools’ Championships for pupils achieving the respective track & field qualifying standards.

Above all, athletics at St Lawrence College emphasises enjoyment of the sport and long-term athlete development. Those who pursue the sport will find a supportive environment in which to develop their potential fully.

Basketball is a very popular recreational sport and many boys are passionate about it, especially in the boarding houses. Matches are played in the Sports Hall but, when the weather is good, students can often be seen in the late afternoon sunshine practising on the outdoor courts.

There are weekly practice sessions for both juniors and seniors, and senior matches are organised against other schools. Our boys enjoy themselves and play to a very good standard.

As a great way to get fit, compete, or just have fun, squash is becoming more and more popular at St Lawrence. Played by more than 500,000 people in England every month, the only equipment needed is a ball, racket, a pair of non-marking sports shoes and, importantly, protective eyewear which is also compulsory.

The College has two squash courts on site in the Sports Centre. As a Games option, it is available in all three terms to senior players. Recreational squash, however, is available to both junior and senior players and can be played all-year-round as an optional activity and in free time during the opening hours of the Sports Centre.

Squash matches are planned and an inter-house squash competition is held in the Lent term, giving a number of players the chance to experience competitive squash. Professional coaching is currently available once a week at regular periods throughout the year.