Championing Excellence in Girls' Sport

Published by St Nicholas' School on Wednesday 30th of July 2025

St Nicholas’ School is proud to celebrate a year of exceptional achievements on the sports field. A testament to our commitment to fostering resilience, teamwork, and leadership, our athletes have excelled in district, county and competitions across a range of disciplines. As the best girls' school in the local area, we have set our sights on becoming the leading girls' school in the country, with sport continuing to play a key role in our drive for excellence.

During the 2024/25 academic year, St Nicholas’ athletes have shown outstanding dedication, with our teams competing in netball, hockey, football, cricket, basketball, rounders, cross-country, athletics, and more. Pupils have had access to a broad range of extra-curricular sports clubs, all designed to encourage participation and enhance skills. Through our commitment to maintaining fitness and engagement, pupils have continued to thrive, both individually and as part of team efforts.

In particular, the success of our U17 District Athletics team in May marked a historical milestone, as they were crowned District Champions at the Aldershot & District Athletic Association meet. This achievement followed a string of impressive results across multiple sports, including the U16 basketball team’s clean sweep of the District Cup, Division 1 League title, and County Cup. The U16 netball team also triumphed, finishing first and claiming the 1st League Winners title. The cricket team was crowned U15 League Champions, and our rounders team claimed the U15 District Championship, with several other teams also posting podium finishes.

Abigail Longworth, Director of Sport at St Nicholas’ School, commented: "Our sporting success this year has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve seen tremendous growth in both our participation and competitive results, reflecting the strength of our commitment to girls’ sport. Our athletes have demonstrated resilience, determination, and teamwork, setting new benchmarks for what we can achieve both locally and beyond. As we continue to build on these successes, we’re confident that St Nicholas’ will continue to grow as a force to be reckoned with in girls’ sports."
Dr Olwen Wright, Headmistress of St Nicholas’ School, added: "Sport plays an integral role in the holistic development of every pupil at St Nicholas'. It is part of our vision to empower girls to be confident, strong, and successful both on and off the pitch. With our sights set on becoming the best girls' school in the country, we continue to invest in our sport programmes and provide opportunities for all our pupils to excel. Our accomplishments this year are only the beginning, and we are excited for what the future holds."

In the wider context, girls' schools have proven to be a beacon for positive participation in sport, even as the national trend for girls' sports has seen a decline. According to recent GSA research, girls at girls’ schools enjoy 25% more PE than the national average. What’s more, while activity levels typically drop sharply between Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 in co-educational settings, girls' schools see a much smaller decrease – just 25% compared to 65% nationally. This clearly shows that girls’ schools, like St Nicholas’, are uniquely placed to inspire young women to lead on and off the field.
The academic year concluded with St Nicholas’ annual Sports Awards on July 4th, with guest speaker Katie Cox, a talented dual-sport athlete who has represented both England and Great Britain in basketball and football. Katie shared her journey and experiences as an elite athlete, inspiring pupils to pursue excellence and balance academics with athletic ambitions.

As we look ahead to the 2025/2026 academic year, St Nicholas’ School is poised to continue its mission of offering the very best in girls’ sport and nurturing well-rounded, confident leaders for the future.