We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2025 in the category of Sporting Achievement. This prestigious recognition reflects an outstanding year of sporting success, increased participation, and the continued growth of a vibrant and inclusive sporting culture across our community.
This nomination celebrates far more than competitive results. At the heart of sport at St Lawrence lies our commitment to inclusivity and personal growth. Our Sport for All initiative has led to an 80 percent rise in after-school sports activity, giving pupils of all abilities more opportunities to engage, improve and enjoy.
Since appointing Mr Seth Simmons as Director of Sport, we have seen a transformation in our sporting provision. Our Sports Excellence Programme now supports talented young athletes with specialist coaching, personalised development plans and access to state-of-the-art facilities. Athletes are guided not only in their physical training, but also in managing academic commitments, nutrition, mindset and long-term goals.
Over the past academic year, our pupils have achieved an exceptional series of accomplishments, including:
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National champions: U16 Boys crowned Tier 2 Plate Hockey winners
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Cricket success: U15 Girls reached the national quarter-finals; U18 Girls made the top 16 schools in the country
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Top 100 Cricket Schools in the UK for the fifth year running
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Ranked 188th in the Top 200 UK Sports Schools out of more than 4,500 entries
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Senior Basketball Team reached the County Play-Offs in only their second season
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International representation: pupils representing Wales in hockey and Hong Kong in cricket
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21 youth internationals produced across five different sports over the last 16 years
These results are particularly remarkable given that our Senior School has fewer than 350 pupils. Yet we continue to deliver a sporting programme that rivals much larger schools, both in participation and performance.
Reflecting on the announcement, Mr Simmons said:
“It is an honour to end the year with a nomination for Sporting Achievement at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards. This is our second consecutive shortlisting, following last year’s recognition as finalists, and it’s a real credit to the dedication of our pupils and staff. Congratulations to all the schools nominated across the various categories.”
The Independent Schools of the Year Awards aim to highlight excellence and innovation across the independent education sector. Winners will be announced in autumn 2025.
We are grateful to the staff, families, coaches and alumni who continue to support and inspire our pupils on and off the pitch. With strong foundations in place, the future of sport at St Lawrence looks brighter than ever.