PE and Games at CCCS
Christ Church Meadow has always been a special place for me. I grew up and went to school in Oxford, living just off Abingdon Road. As a boy, I loved anything to do with sport, most specifically football – playing whenever I got the chance and following Oxford United home and away with my dad and brothers, something I still do to this day.
Another big part of my childhood was walking my dog, which we often did around Christ Church Meadow, frequently with my camera in hand, watching the rowers splash up and down the Thames and observing the seasons continually change. I still remember regularly walking past Merton Field, looking on in awe at the lush, green, chequered pitches, set against the incredible backdrop of Merton College Chapel. I often thought about how much I would love to play football on those pitches and how I would give anything to smash a ball into one of the perfectly set nets.
That vision has more recently become a reality, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be leading the sports department here at CCCS. We are extremely lucky to have such a beautiful games field, which we use for both afternoon games sessions and hosting fixtures. Staff and parents from other schools frequently comment on what an incredible setting it is for sport, right in the centre of Oxford. While teaching, coaching, refereeing, and occasionally joining in with games sessions over on Merton Field, I often pause to appreciate just how lucky we are to have such a wonderful space to teach, learn, and play.
PE and games are a hugely important part of the curriculum here at CCCS, and we work as a department to make lessons and fixtures as fun and engaging as possible. We aim to ensure that everyone experiences the positive effects that sport and physical activity can offer. If we can manage this as a department and school, we feel our students are more likely to go on to lead sporting and physically active lives.
Prep Sport
All boys in the Prep School have two games sessions each week. They receive high-quality, well-structured coaching across our four main sports throughout the year. Traditionally, rugby, football, and cricket have been the focus, but over the last two years we have reintroduced hockey into the curriculum.
During the Trinity Term, the boys also take part in a number of athletics-based lessons, practising a range of running, throwing, and jumping events. Alongside games sessions, we pride ourselves on ensuring that all boys regularly play fixtures against other local schools.
Regardless of ability, every boy plays matches and experiences the benefits of competitive team sport, reflecting our ethos of sport for all.
We also enter several tournaments across the year to ensure our most able sporting students have opportunities to challenge themselves and represent the school in more competitive settings. These include rugby, football, hockey, and cross-country.
In Forms 3 and 4, boys attend a weekly swimming lesson at Iffley Road Sports Centre. Specialist swim teachers work with them each week to improve water confidence and swimming technique.
Extracurricular Sport
We are proud to offer a wide range of after-school clubs and activities, which many boys and girls enjoy throughout the school year. Squash, football, table tennis, multi-skills, cricket, and summer sports clubs are all well attended. We also make use of the real tennis court at Oxford University, giving interested boys an incredibly unique sporting opportunity.
We would love to welcome more parents to our home fixture afternoons, where you can experience the magic of Merton Field in all its glory. With the new Pavilion now fully up and running, there is always a warm welcome, with refreshments, tea, and coffee available while you enjoy watching the matches.
Mr Dan Pear
Director of Sport
