Prep School - Newcastle under Lyme School, Independent Day School

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Netball

The school benefits from excellent coaching in this key sport, provided by our Head of Netball, our team of Sports teachers’ and outside coaches.

The school has numerous outdoor courts but the school’s new Sports development will elevate netball provision as the department adds two further indoor courts. One of these courts is of premier league standard, with banked seating provision for spectators, electronic scoreboard and so on, which is enabling the school to explore external pathways for elite netballers with premier league clubs.

Furthermore, the school enjoys a wonderful, close relationship with Newcastle Town Netball Club, where many players enjoy netball outside of school, and who use the school as their coaching and match play base.

Starting in Year 3, our specialist coaches lead engaging, fun-filled sessions that prepare pupils for the excitement of competitive match play, helping them master the game from the very beginning of their sporting journey.

Netball

Cricket

Cricket continues to go from strength to strength at NULS with the school delighted to enjoy a position for the past six years in the prestigious Top 100 Schools listings according to The Cricketer Magazine.

With a designated principal cricket ground, with pavilion, a second cricket square and pitch on our playing fields and an astro wicket, NULS is equipped exceptionally well. // In addition, the school possesses a four lane outdoor astroturf net facility to permit off- season outdoor practice and coaching too.

These facilities are complemented by a superb, new indoor cricket net facility which provides multiple practice lanes for all-year round cricket coaching. The Cricket facility also possesses bowling machines, for all students, utilised by its staff and resident cricket coaches, Jason Brown and Charles Harrison.

Our Prep pupils benefit from an extensive co-curricular programme, with before and after school nets sessions running throughout the school year.

Cricket

Hockey

Hockey at NULS continues to go from strength to strength, with an extensive coaching set-up and full-size floodlit astroturf pitch. Our Senior school pupils consistently achieve county and regional success, with teams reaching 5 national finals in the past few years, winning 3.

The school and staff are proud to have enabled a series of players move beyond regional selection, and to move into national team selection processes for their age range.

In Prep, pupils benefit from the same high standards of coaching, with Hockey being embedded in the curriculum from Year 3. Beyond lessons, pupils can foster their love for the sport through co-curricular clubs and competitive fixtures.

The school also enjoys a close working relationship with North Staffordshire Hockey Club, who use the school as a regional base and where many players also train.

Hockey

Rugby

Our Head of Rugby continues to build on the school’s enviable reputation in this sporting field with a highly skilled team of coaches working with all teams.

The school’s achievements in Rugby are longstanding and the teams enjoy the use of five match pitches. In Prep, pupils commence Rugby as part of their Games lessons in Year 3. As they progress through Prep they can also do co-curricular Rugby and play in competitive fixtures.

The school’s reputation for producing players who go into professional settings is also recognised with young players and former pupils having been in academies at the likes of Wasps and Sale with the school very proud of alumnus Dan Robson, who has played professionally for Wasps and England, and is set to join Gloucester for the upcoming season.

Rugby

Swimming

The school’s pupils at Prep and Seniors feel the benefit of having two specialist swim teachers at school.

With an impressive 25 metre swimming pool, swimming is an integrated part of the curriculum and co-curricular programme. Pupils enjoy wonderful access to swimming opportunities, from beginners’ classes through the school’s own Swim School, through to elite coaching in the school’s Swim Squad.

Life-saving and Water-polo are also part of the sports teams provision. In addition, we also offer swimming lessons outside of the curriculum and are also partnered with the area’s premier swimming club.