Sport

Whether competing at a high level, or taking part for fun, wellbeing or social reasons, students can enjoy around 160 co-curricular sports beyond the timetable.

All our students are encouraged to take part in recreational or team sports, which happen at lunchtimes, after school and at weekends. These sessions are run by our own large team of sports staff, supported by visiting specialists in chosen sports.

Each term has a different sport focus. In autumn it is football and rugby. Then hockey in spring and cricket in summer. Up to six teams per age group engage in weekly competitive action.

Students can also enjoy our fitness suite, tennis, swimming, climbing, golf, squash, badminton, real tennis and much more. There is also the weekly HabsDash, a 3.5km community run around our campus, open to students and staff across Habs Boys and Habs Girls.

The benefits of sport

Interests and activities beyond the curriculum are hugely important. Aside from the simple pleasure of taking part, sports teach important soft skills.

Playing sport offers a vital extra dimension to life at school and beyond, helping to establish a lifelong pattern which brings improved health, fitness and friendships.

Sport also helps to build confidence and resilience. Students learn to value the importance of context-driven rules and safety codes, to minimise risk and compete in a non-aggressive way. They learn to cope responsibly with both success and failure, appreciating the importance of fair play.

They also develop skills in teamwork. Not only appreciating the contribution of others, but taking responsibility for their own individual performances.

High-performance sports

With up to six teams per age group engaging in weekly competitive action, we offer lots of opportunities to excel. Students can compete at district and county level, and are encouraged to reach higher where they show real talent.

We offer coached sessions in cricket, football, hockey, rugby, water polo and swimming, all led by professional sportspeople with added support from our own Athletic Development Leads.

We have strong links with a variety of sporting organisations, such Middlesex Cricket, Watford Football, Saracens Rugby and Watford Waterpolo. Students can even perform at professional stadiums including StoneX and Lords.

Students achieve excellent results, both in teams and as individuals, regionally and nationally. There are teams at the quarter-final stage of national competitions in rugby and football.

Independent Schools Inspectorate report, 2022

HabsDash

Both Habs Boys and Habs Girls come together every Tuesday lunchtime for a fun run – although it is actually taken pretty seriously.

Called HabsDash, it follows a 3.5km route around our school grounds. The run is open to all members of the Habs community, including students, teachers and other staff members.