“Dedicated specialist staff and fantastic facilities” have seen the King's School jump up the league in this year's School Sports Magazine awards.

From over 4,000 secondary schools nationwide, King's is now ranked 31st in the UK’s exclusive top sports schools list, up from 66th last year. Highlights included becoming the U14 National Schools Rugby Champions, with the U14 netball team fourth in the National Schools Netball Finals.

Now ranked second in the North West, the ranking puts King’s in the top 1% of schools nationally for sporting performance. The impressive ranking was awarded by School Sport Magazine, which evaluates schools based on their success across 20 different sports and over 120 events. This not only highlights King’s exceptional commitment to sport, but also the diversity of opportunity offered to pupils.

King's Director of Sport Chris Thomson, said:  "We are fortunate to have some fantastic facilities including our Derby Playing Fields and Brocklehurst Field; a main cricket field; two floodlit Astroturfs; a floodlit six court netball and tennis area. These outdoor facilities are complemented by fantastic indoor facilities in the sports centre, including a six-court sports hall that caters for a variety of sports. The complex also houses a six lane 25m swimming pool, a dance studio, a fitness suite, and a bespoke cricket centre.

"These new indoor facilities have certainly helped support the King’s Elite Athlete Pathway (KEAP) programme, with staff assisting our most talented students to develop their fundamental skills, attitude and their strength and conditioning. We are also blessed with a number of well qualified and knowledgeable PE teachers, specialist coaches, academic staff and support staff who provide coaching input in Games lessons, after school and on match days.

Chris added: "Clearly, sport benefits physical health. It also plays an invaluable role in the psychological development and the wellbeing of young people. Being involved in sport will build self-confidence and promote important life skills, such as discipline, teamwork, leadership, resilience and perseverance."

King's Director of External Relations Caroline Johnson said: "This success is very much about developing local talent and empowering young sportspeople to be the very best they can be. We are delighted to receive this external recognition for our sports provision, the range of opportunities and the achievements that we are able to celebrate as a community. It is a tremendous achievement that reflects the dedication of our staff and the remarkable sporting accomplishments of our pupils." 

The list of sporting successes in 2024 is remarkable: U14 National Schools Rugby Champions; U18 National Schools Rugby quarter finalists; under 14 National Schools Netball Finals fourth; U14 County Netball Champions; U12 and U13 runners-up and U18 third in the County netball cup. U16 Girls National Schools Hockey quarter finalists; U14 Girls North West Hockey Champions; U13 Girls County Hockey Champion; U12 County Hockey Champions; U12 Boys third in North Hockey Finals; U11 Boys North West Hockey Champions and AJIS Hockey Champions; U15 Boys Cheshire Cricket Champions, North T20 finalists and made the last 16 of the National Knockout. The U13 Boys’ cricket team reached the last 32 of their National Knockout. 1st XI cricket had an unbeaten Saturday season and were North semi-finalists in the National T20. The U12 boys’ cricket team completed an unbeaten season and lifted the Cheshire Cup. The U13 girls’ cricket team narrowly finished as runners up in the Cheshire Cup. The U12 girls’ cricketers claimed victory at the Birkenhead tournament. U11 girls’ AJIS cricket champions. U11 boys’ AJIS Champions; Four National Trampoline Champion Teams in 2024; The U13 table tennis team were third in the North West Championship; King's year 5/6 swim team qualified for the National Finals; Gala successes for seniors and junior. Three pupils completed the ‘Original Mountain Marathon’ in Snowdonia. King's won the preliminary 12 Dressage team final at the Mochara Inter-County Restricted Dressage Team Championships atHickstead.

Representative honours were also plentiful and over the last two years included nine pupils selected for their country in sports as diverse as climbing, cricket, netball, rugby, tennis, water polo and competitive dance. There were many more at regional level and county level.