Physical education and sport at Abingdon House School
At Abingdon House School, we see physical education as a vital part of every pupil’s development – not just for health and fitness, but for building confidence, resilience, and strong social connections. Through a varied and engaging PE and sport programme, our pupils learn new skills, discover personal strengths, and develop habits that support their wellbeing in and out of school.
Research has consistently shown that physical activity supports mental health, reduces anxiety, and depression and boosts overall mood and wellbeing (Institute of Medicine, 2013; Ahn & Fedewa, 2011). That’s why we prioritise movement across the school day – not only in PE lessons, but through enrichment, extra-curricular clubs, and opportunities to self-regulate through movement.
What PE and sport look like at AHS
Pupils in our Lower Senior School take part in two PE lessons and one games lesson each week. In Upper Senior School and Sixth Form, they continue with two weekly PE lessons. These sessions are designed to be active, varied and inclusive – whether that’s through learning traditional sports, developing fitness skills, or trying something new like indoor rowing or handball.
Additional physical activity at AHS:
- A daily 25-minute fitness intervention programme focused on building strength, stamina, and emotional regulation.
- A fully equipped fitness suite with treadmills, rowing machines, light weights, and boxing equipment available for structured workouts and movement breaks.
- Regular enrichment sessions which include physically active experiences designed to broaden pupils’ interests.
- Clubs and teams, with seven of our eleven clubs focused on physical activity – from karate and dance to football and cricket.
Movement breaks and access to sensory tools, including physical equipment, play a key role in supporting emotional regulation. As Froiland (2023) notes, regular physical activity can boost motivation, focus, and emotional resilience – key factors in both learning and wellbeing. Both of which are heavily promoted within our ethos as a school for staff and pupils.
Promoting lifelong healthy habits
At AHS, we want every pupil to leave school with a positive relationship with physical activity. That means focusing not only on competition, but also on enjoyment, self-improvement, and long-term health. Programmes like Jump IN for Healthy Kids (2016) show that when fitness is framed around fun rather than performance, pupils are more likely to stick with it. This is weaved within our sports curriculum and fun and personal development is at the forefront of what we want to achieve.
Our approach reflects this: we create an environment where pupils feel safe to try new things, challenge themselves and find movement and sports they enjoy. By building positive experiences now, we help lay the foundation for healthy, active lives well into adulthood (Stadler, Oettingen, & Gollwitzer, 2009).
Sporting opportunities beyond the curriculum
Pupils at AHS take part in exciting sporting events and partnerships, including:
- Competitions at Lord’s Cricket Ground
- Swimming galas at the London Aquatics Centre
- External football fixtures
-
Trips to professional venues like the Under Armour performance centre, Stamford Bridge stadium and the Emirates stadium
These opportunities both develop skills and give pupils a chance to work with professional coaches, experience high performance environments and represent the school with pride.
Academic and cognitive benefits
There is also growing evidence that regular physical activity can support academic achievement. Studies show that physical activity improves brain function, memory, and classroom behaviour (Biddle & Asare, 2011; Froiland, 2023). At AHS, we see this every day – whether it’s a pupil using the treadmill to help regulate or a class re-energised and motivated after a movement break.
As Charvat (2012) highlights, pupils with poor mental health often struggle with academic performance. By embedding physical activity into daily life at AHS, we support our pupils to stay emotionally regulated and therefore are more able to access learning effectively.
AHS pupil & family voices
Below is a snapshot of student and parent insights about PE at Abingdon House School.
Thank you for always organising such fun and engaging trips in sport, my child has thoroughly enjoyed PE this year.
Highlights this year has been winning a gold medal in the National Rowing competition and going to the Under Armour Performance centre.
I like playing football with my friends during reward time.
We’ve been on lots of sports trips this year, my favourite was to the Chelsea stadium.
I’ve really enjoyed exploring handball more this year, it’s become my favourite sport and my class love it.
Using the treadmill and row machines to help me regulate means I can go back into my class quickly.
Our commitment
At AHS, our PE and sport provision is about much more than developing athletic and technical skills – it’s about helping pupils build healthy, active, and fulfilling lives. We believe every pupil deserves to experience success in physical activity, no matter their background or ability. Through encouragement, variety and positive reinforcement, we aim to spark a lifelong love of movement in every young person which they can take with them beyond the doors of AHS.
