Specialist Sports Programmes

Cricket Programme

The Cricket Programme, for pupils aged 10-18, offers high quality cricket coaching from professional cricketer, Alex Stafford and his team. Our bespoke programme allows children to develop their skills year-round and take advantage of the excellent  facilities. Culford School have recently been included in The Cricketer Magazine's Top 100 Cricket Schools in the UK.

What does Culford's Cricket Programme offer young cricketers?

The Cricket Programme offers young players a range of essential components that will allow them to develop their talent and significantly improve their sporting abilities. The programme includes:

• Regular personalised coaching sessions with professional, Alex Stafford and Assistant Coach, Jack Beaumont
• Technical cricketing skills development
• Specialised cricketing strength and conditioning training
• Video analysis and Zepp Power Sensor App
• Merlyn by Bola Spin Bowling Machine

What cricket programmes are available for pupils?

 

Level 1 – Foundation Programme (Core Principles Programme)

Ages 9-13 - One session per week

This programme will deliver the core principles of cricket and develop the patterns of movements associated with batting, fielding, bowling and wicket keeping. The key focus will be to create a sound technique for each individual cricketer. These sessions will be two to one or small group sessions.

Level 2 – Development Programme

Ages 11-18 (up to two sessions per week)

Is available to cricketers who currently compete regularly in school &/or club matches and who are ambitious to play representative cricket. The programme will include:

• Technical development (one to one and small group sessions)
• Physical development (Speed, Agility and Quickness) and introductions to Strength and Conditioning specific to cricket
• Cricket Mental and Lifestyle Coaching
• Tactical development
• Video Analysis (beginning and end) – introducing video analysis to your development

Level 3 – Performance Programme

Ages 13-18 (up to four sessions per week)

The Performance Programme is a bespoke programme suitable for ambitious county cricketers striving to progress on the representative ladder. In addition to the five key development areas players will consider:

• Assessing risk
• Decision making under pressure
• Recognition of key match moments
• Building mental resilience

The programme will be detailed and analytical and require independence, self-reflection and responsibility.

Rugby Programme

Culford provides the opportunity to combine an excellent education up to A Level with a tailored, high performance rugby programme. Rugby Scholarships are available to Culford Senior School pupils at ages 13+ and 16+ and may be awarded to the value of up to 25% of tuition fees for suitably qualified candidates. 

About Specialist Rugby at Culord

Successful candidates will receive a year round rugby programme including:

• Specific skills sessions and team training three times a week
• Coaching linked to county and regional rugby structures
• Additional strength and conditioning training
• Competitive fixtures throughout autumn and spring terms
• Goal setting and performance profiling

Application for Rugby Scholarships

Candidates are required to:

• Achieve a satisfactory performance in the School entrance examinations
• Complete the relevant application form detailing: honours, awards and achievements; current school, club, county, regional, national and development teams; targets and intended goals; plus any other supporting information.

This information must be endorsed by the applicant’s current school Head and the Head of Sport; and by the coach of a regional squad.

Selection for Rugby Scholarships

Candidates will be invited for an Assessment Day which may involve:

• Testing in: agility, coordination and stamina; core skills; team play in one sport
• An interview with the Assistant Head and senior colleagues
• A skills and basic fitness test

Scholarship applicants should be of Regional/County level and above.

Hockey Programme

Culford provides the opportunity to combine an excellent education up to A Level with a tailored, high performance hockey programme. The programme is open to all Culford Senior School pupils at ages 13+ and 16+. Hockey Scholarships are available and may be awarded to the value of up to 25% of tuition fees for suitably qualifed candidates.

About Specialist Hockey at Culford

Successful hockey candidates will receive a year round training programme, which will include:

• Competitive indoor and outdoor fixtures throughout the autumn and spring terms
• Specific skills and team training at least three times a week
• Video and Match Analysis sessions.
• A hockey specific fitness development program to be used throughout the school year which includes strength, conditioning and SAQ training

Application for Hockey Scholarships

Candidates are required to:

• Achieve a satisfactory performance in the School entrance examinations
• Complete the relevant application form detailing: honours, awards and achievements; current school, club, county, regional, national and development teams; targets and intended goals; plus any other supporting information.

This information must be endorsed by the applicant’s current school Head and the Head of Sport; and by the coach of a regional squad.

Selection for Hockey Scholarships

Candidates will be invited for an Assessment Day which will involve:

• Testing in: agility, coordination and stamina; core skills; team play in one sport
• An interview with the Assistant Head and senior colleagues
• A skills and basic fitness test

Scholarship applicants should be of Regional/County level and above.

Netball Programme

Netball at Culford has been one of our leading sports and our teams have consistently reached county and regional finals. We have a strong base of players, coaches and support staff across the school.

Sophie Hansell, Head of Netball, leads a team of dedicated coaches who produce excellent results across the board. Charlotte plays and coaches at regional level. Netball is accessible to pupils in both the autumn and spring term. During the autumn term we focus on preparing for the county competitions, whilst in spring term we compete against other schools.

Facilities

We have five outdoor courts and an indoor court with an electronic scoreboard. These courts are available all year round to students who are keen to develop across all three terms.

The Netball Programme typically includes:

• Detailed, focused and progressive small group skill and technical development training
• Strength and Conditioning training
• Coaching linked to county structures
• Video Analysis
• Nutritional support