With two former elite athletes in leadership roles, sport at London Park Schools is focused on choice, fun and capital-wide opportunities
London Park Schools (LPS) arrives this September. The highly anticipated LPS Clapham opens its doors, with the two well-established and successful Eaton Square schools changing their names to LPS Mayfair and LPS Sixth. Three schools, a fresh dynamic – and that includes the delivery of sport.
That’s no surprise really, since LPS Principal Suzie Longstaff is a former elite athlete, and so is LPS Senior and Sixth Head Adrian Rainbow. Before she moved into education, Longstaff had a rowing career that included coxing the British Olympic VIII at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and Cambridge University’s ‘Goldie’ in 1997 and 1998 Boat Races. Rainbow, meanwhile, played pro American football. He was an All-Canadian quarterback during his time at University of Columbia and was then drafted to Montreal Alouettes before transferring to Germany and playing ten seasons in its American football league.
“Alongside competitive fixtures in all mainstream sports, there’s velodrome cycling, beach volleyball below London Bridge and CrossFit”
If you imagined that would mean a trophy mindset, think again – it’s anything but. Both Suzie Longstaff and Adrian Rainbow are great believers in sport’s power to engage all levels; “inclusive and fun” are key descriptors from Longstaff. LPS wants everyone from complete beginner to elite athlete – and its cohort includes rising stars at elite level – to be helped to raise their game/s.
Sam Green, Head of Sport at LPS Senior and Sixth says it’s about giving each student the chance to shine. “Students benefit from a personalised and nurturing approach within the classroom, but access to the sports provision of a much bigger school,” he says. “This approach not only allows us to be competitive in a broad range of fixtures against larger schools, but also offer a broad range of opportunities.”
Tuesday afternoon is dedicated to sports clubs – an opportunity for all year groups to unite within their chosen sports. LPS has competitive fixtures throughout the year in mainstream sports including netball, hockey, football, rugby, athletics and tennis. But also cycling at the local national-level velodrome, beach volleyball on the sands below London Bridge and access to climbing wall and CrossFit challenges. Sport is central to the curriculum, with both Games and PE lessons. “This provides us with the opportunity to expose them to many different sports throughout the year,” says Adrian Rainbow. “This is then complemented by our enrichment and co-curricular programme, where students are able to opt for a wide range of sports at lunch and after school.”
Being in central London brings challenges and opportunities. “Our enthusiasm and bold aspirations for our students far outweigh the challenges. An example of this is our purchase of a boat club in Putney and we look forward to building rowing into our sporting programme within the next year,” says Suzie Longstaff. Sam Green says there is a logistical element to planning sport – for example, students are using ten different locations over the Summer Term – but the reward is in top-class locations. “To name a few examples, we have Green Park directly across the road where we are currently doing ultimate frisbee in our Core PE lessons. We have an extremely popular boxing club at the BuddhaBox in Mayfair, explore London landmarks in our Royal Parks run club, use indoor cricket nets at the Oval and the sports hall at the Queen Mother gym in Victoria.”
Beyond all the obvious benefits to body and spirit, LPS sees sport as a vital part of students’ toolbox in helping to build a ‘coaching mentality’. “This is all wrapped up with our emphasis on growth mindset and achieving success in a way that is individualised and personalised,” says Adrian Rainbow. Suzie Longstaff adds that the coaching mentality develops both inner and outer strengths. “Building a ‘coaching mentality’ focuses on the inner student, developing their skills to focus, take responsibility and to support others with their development too.” And, from personal experience, she knows why it’s important to offer range. “As an average sporting performer until I found my Olympic sport, I understand the importance of breadth and opportunity – the power of trying new sports.”
“As an average sporting performer until I found my Olympic sport, I understand the importance of breadth and opportunity”
“I always explain to our students that everything I learned about myself I learned on the American football pitch,” says Adrian Rainbow. “Sport helps our students develop the ‘soft skills’ they will need to cope and thrive when they leave our school.” The good news for LPS students is that the team are “horizon scanning” for fresh opportunities in sports and activities all the time. Be it learning to sail a tall ship or trying out up-and-comers (Padel is one they are watching carefully right now), there’s challenge, adventure and the opportunity to grow skills and passions.
“We want our students to discover and develop their talents, enjoy themselves, and make lifelong memories and friendships – and if this is through the less conventional school sports, then great,” says Suzie Longstaff.
London Park Schools londonparkschools.com
Further reading: MPW’s enlightened approach to education
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