Home > Sports & Activities

Sports & Activities

King's offers a vast and varied array of extra-curricular activities, unparalleled for a school of its size, from sport and drama to music and outdoor pursuits, from CCF and dance to cookery and debating. Importantly we try to ensure that as far as possible there are no conflicts of interest between the various activities.

In the Michaelmas term, King's regularly fields nine rugby teams and up to ten girls' hockey teams. After Christmas the boys put out up to ten hockey teams and five soccer teams, often on the same day, whilst the girls field nine netball teams. The summer sees boys' and girls' cricket, athletics, swimming and tennis teams competing regularly. Throughout the winter months we have a strong cross-country running programme supporting a number of national standard athletes. The Riding team also competes regularly in local and regional competitions, including a training session with six-time Olympian and London 2012 silver medal winner, Mary King. In addition there are now competitive opportunities for basketball, badminton and lacrosse as well as recreational activities such as aerobics, dance, self-defence, shooting and yoga. Every boy or girl can find a team that will suit their skill level. However it is not the just quantity of teams that matters. King's teams regularly win county cups, with the 1st XI boys' hockey team being the 2012 County Under 18 Champions and Divisional Runners-up, whilst the 1st VII rugby team made the final of the 2012 West of England 7s tournament. The cricket sides continue to dominate on the circuit and have won county cups, beating Millfield for the past two years. The 1st XI have remained in the top three of Wisden statistics across the country for the last four years, supporting the development of five professional cricketers in as many seasons.

Outdoor activities are well catered for within the umbrella of the CCF, and alongside that are the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Gold award schemes. Kayaking takes place in the pool in winter and in the surf or rapids in the warmer weather. The school has its own climbing wall and groups also go climbing in Devon. The CCF runs a Navy, Army and Marines section, and our Royal Marines section has now won the highly prestigious Sir Steuart Pringle trophy for the last three years in a row.

As well as Community Service opportunities (which are described elsewhere) King's also offers basic cooking for the younger pupils, and a course for those about to start at university and cook to survive for the first time! There are regular contemporary dance classes and ballet classes when the demand arises. Several pupils are taking Speech and Drama classes in preparation for LAMDA exams and the Taunton Festival. Whilst budding thespians perform in plays, we also offer the opportunity for the technically minded to become involved in backstage work and effects.

The aim of all these activities is to allow each and every pupil to find their niche, to widen their interests and to promote self-confidence and self-belief. The success and enjoyment of the boys' Under 14 C hockey team is just as important to the individual as say the 1st VII netball team winning the county cup. Kayaking down the River Dart can give the same adrenalin rush as singing in the chamber choir.