We teach confidence first, and let the results follow
We start from wellbeing, because a child who feels settled and capable takes part more fully, and it is that engagement over time that leads to real achievement.
Simon Ward, our Director of Sport, leads a department with a clear ambition: for Kingsley to become one of the best private sports schools in the UK. That ambition shapes the coaching, the care and the opportunities on offer, and it sits alongside our belief that sport should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability.
Every pupil can find a sport they enjoy
No child is placed in a setting they are not ready for, and there is a route in for the confident competitor and the cautious first-timer alike.
badminton and table tennis
trampolining
gentle exercise and mindfulness
basketball and rounders
cross-country and athletics
cricket, tennis, handball and volleyball
Five academies, five clear pathways
Expert coaching and structured progression in each discipline. Water sport lovers can also follow the Surf Academy, which sits within Outdoor Education five minutes from the coast.
Rugby Academy
Coaching led by Director of Rugby Tom Skelding, a former professional player, with 15-a-side fixtures across the south-west and 7s tournaments including the Rosslyn Park National Sevens.
Football / FC Rise
The FC Kingsley Football Academy from Year 3 and the FC Rise | Kingsley Devon sixth-form squad, both run in collaboration with the Ferdinand Collective.
Netball Academy
School fixtures and tournaments from U12 to Seniors, the annual PGL netball tour and, from Year 9, the chance to play in the local league.
Gymnastics Academy
A bespoke gymnasium for floor, trampoline and vault, and a competition season that runs through to the ISA National Finals and the English Schools' competition.
Judo Academy
Judo is part of our PE curriculum and club programme, taught in our own dojo by Head of Judo Simon Ward, a Level 5 British Judo Association Coach.
ACE Programme
Our ACE Programme supports the sporting journey of Sports Scholars and non-scholars alike, with tailored opportunities for young athletes to develop in their sport.
Without choosing between sport and study
For pupils with real sporting ambition, our Athlete Centred Education (ACE) Programme adds specialist support to academy coaching, from strength and conditioning and nutrition to video analysis and sports leadership training. It is open to Sports Scholars and to pupils identified as talented athletes.
Training follows a staged model. Years 5 to 8 are about Training to Train, with the focus on participation, enjoyment and fundamental skills. Years 9 and 10 move on to Training to Compete, and Years 11 to 13 to Training to Win, where athletes sharpen the technical, tactical, physical and mental edge to compete at the highest level.
What the Kingsley Family trains and competes on
Everything is on our own site, and the all-weather pitch gives girls' and boys' rugby and football year-round training and fixtures.
the only World Rugby and FIFA approved all-weather sports pitch in North Devon
grass pitches and a Sports Hall
netball courts, tennis courts and outdoor basketball courts
a fully-equipped Dojo
a bespoke Gymnasium with a vaulting track, and a Fitness Suite
Pitches, courts, Dojo and gymnasium
Redefining what success in sport can look like
Physical activity supports mental health as much as fitness, and our non-competitive Wellbeing Curriculum is designed with that in mind. This strand boosts engagement and reaches pupils who have found PE difficult in the past.
Through it, young people build resilience, ease stress and grow in confidence within a supportive setting. Whether a child competes nationally or simply enjoys a recreational game, sport at Kingsley is there to help them flourish.
Generous sports scholarships in every academy
Generous sports scholarships are available in all of our Sports Academies, for girls and boys equally, from Year 7 and for Sixth Form entry. Every Sports Scholar is enrolled on the ACE Programme and follows an individualised plan, with progress monitored and recorded as they develop in their chosen sport.
Frequently asked questions
What sports can my child play at Kingsley?
Pupils can train in five Sports Academies (Rugby, Football, Netball, Gymnastics and Judo) and can surf through the Surf Academy in Outdoor Education. The wider programme includes tennis, badminton, table tennis, handball, basketball, volleyball, cross-country, athletics, cricket, rounders, trampolining and dodgeball, along with mindfulness sessions and gentle exercise.
Do you have to be talented to take part?
No. Sport at Kingsley is for every age and ability, and the non-competitive Wellbeing Curriculum gives a route in for pupils who have found PE difficult before. The Sports Academies and the ACE Programme sit alongside it for pupils who want to train seriously.
What sports facilities does the school have?
Kingsley has the only World Rugby and FIFA approved all-weather sports pitch in North Devon. The Sports Hub also includes grass pitches, a Sports Hall, netball courts, tennis courts and outdoor basketball courts, and pupils train in a fully-equipped Dojo, a Gymnasium and a Fitness Suite, all on site.
Are there sports scholarships?
Yes. Generous sports scholarships are available in all five Sports Academies (Rugby, Football, Netball, Gymnastics and Judo), for girls and boys equally, for new entrants from Year 7 and for Sixth Form entry. Every Sports Scholar is enrolled on the ACE Programme. Our Admissions team at admissions@kingsleydevon.com can talk you through eligibility, trials and how to apply.
Northdown Road, Bideford