Sport

At Tormead, sport, physical activity, and exercise are central to school life. Through our varied and engaging curricular and co-curricular programmes, we strive to instil a lifelong love and appreciation of physical activity in every child. With inspiring teaching and top-level coaching, we are dedicated to nurturing each pupil, helping them discover their sporting passion and achieve their full potential. 

First class sporting facilities

All pupils at Tormead enjoy access to an extensive array of sports facilities, offering an outstanding range of opportunities in sport, health, and fitness. On-site, we have a spacious sports hall, a sprung-floor gymnasium, and a well-equipped fitness suite, along with four netball and tennis courts. Just a 10-minute walk away, pupils currently participate in football, cricket, and athletics at our impressive Urnfield Sports Ground. 

By October 2024, the development at Urnfield will deliver a state-of-the-art facility for Tormead Sport. The upgraded amenities will feature an all-weather hockey pitch, a 400m athletics track, artificial cricket nets and pitch, and enhanced parking and access. To learn more about Tormead’s new sporting home, please watch the video below.

Find out more about the new sporting home of Tormead, which will provide outstanding facilities for hockey, rugby, cricket, football and athletics.

Watch the video…


At Tormead, our goal is to inspire each pupil to develop a lifelong passion for sport and physical activity. We offer a diverse and engaging co-curricular programme that runs before, during, and after school, providing over 20 sports and physical activities to ensure every girl finds something that matches her interests. This programme is delivered by a dedicated team of 30 experienced P.E. teachers and sports professionals who not only support our high-performing athletes in achieving their full potential but also foster an inclusive ‘sport for all’ environment. 

Our sports clubs are strongly supported by a comprehensive fixtures programme, ranging from national and regional competitions to friendly inter-school matches. We make it a priority to ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to represent the school in sport at the appropriate level. Below is a full list of our co-curricular sports and physical activities, organized by their respective bands: 

  • Participation & Creative Band:

    This category includes activities such as Cheerleading and Dance, tailored for pupils interested in the creative and performance aspects of physical activity. These activities emphasise teamwork and collaboration, often culminating in showcases or competitions each term. 

  • Health & Wellbeing Band

    Focusing on the physical, mental, and social benefits of sport in a non-competitive setting, this band offers activities like Pilates, Table Tennis, Walking, and Yoga. These clubs are typically held during lunchtimes, with Yoga and Walking available in the Spring and Summer terms. 

  • Core Band

    The Core Band includes Athletics, Badminton, Cross Country, Football, Rowing, Swimming, and Tennis—key sports that are central to our offerings. These sports have ‘Core’ sessions once per week across two or more terms, with a focus on inclusive training and competition. Pupils can progress at their own pace and participate in regular fixtures and competitive opportunities, with many of these sports competing at county, regional, and national levels. 

  • Performance Band

    This category features Cricket, Gymnastics, Hockey, and Netball, aiming to encourage mass participation while also fostering excellence. We provide extensive and additional opportunities for all pupils to develop and achieve success at county, regional, and national levels. Weekly block fixtures for Hockey, Netball, and Cricket take place midweek or on weekends. 

We offer regular mid-week and weekend fixtures for core sports, and give pupils the chance to compete in county, regional and national level competitions. Our participation sports focus on promoting positive physical and mental health in a non-competitive context.

Our sports fixtures and events calendar can be found here.

At Tormead, one of our key beliefs is ‘We value every girl’.

Nothing could be truer in sport.

Sports Trips & Tours

Sport has taken our pupils across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Sports tours are a key part of our programme, offering girls a unique opportunity to enhance their sporting skills while gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures through unforgettable trips and experiential learning. In recent years, our hockey and netball players have travelled to destinations such as South Africa, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. At Tormead, all sports tours are fully inclusive, with itineraries tailored to accommodate all levels of performers. 

Talented Performer Programme

Our Talented Performer Programme (TPP) is designed to inspire and support our most gifted athletes, helping them reach their full potential across one or more sports. At Tormead, we prioritise an athlete-centred approach that balances holistic development with performance progress. To achieve this, participants receive regular mentoring sessions, weekly strength and conditioning training, and additional time to work directly with our Heads of Sport and dedicated coaching staff. 

Athletes also attend monthly workshops covering a range of essential topics such as performance analysis, time management, nutrition, and sports psychology. These sessions are led by external experts and are specifically aimed at enhancing the knowledge and expertise of our athletes as they aspire to elite levels. TPP is uniquely crafted to foster excellence without compromising the well-being of our athletes. 

Admission to the programme is determined during the Sports Scholarship application process and reviewed at the start of each academic year. For more information, please contact our Director of Sport, George Pettitt, at gpettitt@tormeadschool.org.uk. 

We are proud to be leaders in sport within the local community, providing pathways for girls to access high-quality coaching both within school and externally. Our partnerships include coaching and facility hire arrangements with Guildford Hockey Club, as part of our high-performance hockey programme, as well as shared coaching provisions with Guildford Saints FC and Guildford City Swimming. As a high-performing gymnastics school, we also offer girls of all skill levels the opportunity to train on Saturday mornings and during lunchtime sessions. 

We believe every pupil deserves a modern, engaging, and high-quality curriculum. From Year 7 to Year 9, pupils benefit from a diverse programme that promotes physical literacy and movement skills, while equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to lead healthy, active lifestyles. At Key Stage 3, pupils participate in a 55-minute lesson each week.  

  • The Year 7 and Year 8 Physical Education Curriculum

    The Year 7 and Year 8 Physical Education curriculum, known as the ‘Essential Curriculum,’ builds on the foundational skills, knowledge, and understanding established in the Prep School. Our approach prioritises holistic development, ensuring that students not only improve their physical abilities but also develop skills such as oracy, analysis, problem-solving, and resilience. 

    With a focus on physical literacy, the curriculum fosters curiosity and risk-taking in a sporting context, whilst also helping students develop foundational and transferable skills and techniques that benefit them both on the sports field and beyond. This approach lays the foundation for lifelong participation in physical activity, enabling girls to appreciate movement, understand its benefits, and build self-confidence. 

    The following areas are covered through 6-week units of work 

    • Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ)  
    • Strength, Power, Balance, and Flexibility 
    • Coordination and Motor Skills 
    • Game Sense and Ball Skills 
    • Creative Movement and Expression 
    • Swimming and Water Confidence 
  • The Year 9 Physical Education Curriculum

    The Year 9 Physical Education curriculum, called the ‘Embrace Challenge’ curriculum, builds on the foundations laid in Years 7 and 8 while fostering an appreciation for a variety of sports. By introducing new activities, this curriculum encourages widespread participation and cultivates a lifelong commitment to healthy, active lifestyles. The emphasis on diverse sports keeps students engaged, enhances their skills by applying them in new contexts. By exposing pupils to sports they may not have experienced before, the curriculum aims to challenge gender stereotypes and break down barriers to participation. 

    The following areas are covered through 6-week units of work 

    1. Ultimate Frisbee 
    1. Health-Related Exercise (Yoga, Pilates, Gym) 
    1. Table Tennis 
    1. Parkour 
    1. Handball 
    1. Climbing 

In addition to physical Education, all pupils in Senior School participate in a 1-hour 50-minute Games afternoon each week throughout the year. These sessions focus on enhancing communication skills, teamwork, and resilience, while fostering a sense of belonging through collaborative activities. We make full use of our excellent on-site facilities and Urnfield Sports Ground, along with Surrey Sports Park, Spectrum Leisure Centre, and Weybridge Ladies Rowing Club.

  • Year 7 & Year 8 Games

    In Year 7 and Year 8, the curriculum includes compulsory 6-week units in cricket, hockey, and cricket. After completing these units, pupils have the opportunity to follow a pupil-led curriculum, choosing from a diverse range of activities such as athletics, football, rowing, tag rugby, tennis, and ultimate frisbee.  

  • Year 9 and Year 10 Games

    In Year 9 and Year 10, most pupils engage in a pupil-led curriculum, selecting from a diverse range of activities, including athletics, badminton, basketball, dance, football, Fitness Suite sessions, rowing, and volleyball. Games afternoons also offer our squad players in hockey, netball, and cricket dedicated time to refine their skills and team play in preparation for fixtures and competitions. This approach ensures that every pupil, regardless of ability or experience, can access the appropriate games provision that aligns with their interests and ambitions. Our commitment to inclusivity means promoting a lifelong love of sport for all, encouraging participation and enjoyment at every level. 

  • Year 11 and Sixth Form Games

    The primary objective of our Year 11 to Year 13 Games Curriculum is to promote widespread participation and engagement through a broad and varied selection of activities. We aim to cultivate a lifelong commitment to sport and physical activity, equipping students with the motivation and skills to continue these pursuits beyond school and into adulthood. Additionally, we emphasise the positive relationship between physical activity, health and wellbeing, and academic performance. 

    Our curriculum is intentionally diverse and inclusive, structured around activity carousels that offer students a range of options: 

    • Health and Wellbeing: Activities such as climbing, fitness training, mindfulness exercises, pilates, and yoga. 
    • Games Activities: Traditional team sports like basketball, football, hockey, netball, tag rugby, and ultimate frisbee. 
    • Net and Wall Games: Sports like badminton, squash, and tennis 
    • Striking and Fielding: Activities such as cricket, rounders, and softball 

    These activities are available in 6- and 12-week units, allowing students either to explore a variety of sports or to focus more intensively on specific ones. Games lessons, held once a week on Wednesdays for 1 hour and 50 minutes, are an integral part of the weekly curriculum during these crucial examination years. 

    In addition, these sessions provide a dedicated training environment and competitive opportunities for pupils representing the school in cricket, hockey, and netball.  

The P.E. & Sports Department offers a large and successful academic programme for GCSE and A Level (AQA). For more details, please click here

At Tormead, every pupil, regardless of their sporting ambition, experience, or ability, has the opportunity to develop a love for sport and physical activity. Stay updated with the latest news from Tormead Sport by following @Tormead_Sport on X (formerly Twitter). For more information about P.E. and Sport at Tormead, please contact our Director of Sport, George Pettitt, at gpettitt@tormeadschool.org.uk. 

George Pettitt
Director of Sport

Where next?

Senior

Performing arts