Pupils take part in football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, swimming, athletics, gymnastics, tennis, padel tennis, cross-country and, in Year 6, rowing. Many of these are also available as after-school clubs through our Wraparound & Clubs programme.
Our Sports Ethos
At Orchard House, we foster a lifelong love of sport and wellness. It’s an essential part of our commitment to preparing pupils for life beyond the classroom – children who develop a love of sport early in life go on to lead more active, healthy and happy lives as adults.
We support and challenge pupils at every level, from first experiences to advanced squads, through expert teaching, purposeful practice and a culture of sportsmanship.
We balance sport for all with clear pathways to excellence, ensuring every child enjoys inclusive opportunities to be the best they can be – and feels proud of their progress along the way.
OHS’s success in sport comes from its outstanding staff who deliver an effective mix of inclusivity and aspiration.”
Sports on Offer
Pupils at Orchard House take part in a broad and progressive sports programme across PE lessons, Games sessions and extracurricular clubs. Sports offered include:
- Football
- Netball
- Rugby
- Hockey
- Cricket
- Swimming
- Athletics
- Gymnastics
- Tennis
- Padel Tennis
- Cross-country
- Rowing (Year 6)
Many of these are also available as after-school clubs, see our full Wraparound & Clubs programme for current club listings and timings.
Facilities & Partnerships
Our sports provision is enhanced by outstanding local facilities, most just a five-minute walk from our main school buildings:
- Rocks Lane, Chiswick — football, rugby, hockey, netball and padel tennis
- Chiswick House Grounds — summer cricket
- Chiswick Back Common and The Green — cross-country and additional PE lessons
- Acton Leisure Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool — private swimming sessions, grouped by ability
- Team Keane — Year 6 rowing programme
- King’s House Sports Ground — venue for our annual Sports Day
Fixtures and results can be found on our dedicated sports fixtures site.
Sport by Age Group
Our sports curriculum is progressive, building skills and confidence at every stage:
Early Years (ages 3–5) Focus on fundamental movement skills, taught through fun, play-based activities that build coordination, balance and confidence.
Key Stage 1 (ages 5–7) Pupils begin developing the foundations of football, netball and gymnastics. Swimming is introduced in Year 2.
Key Stage 2 (ages 7–11) The programme becomes more diverse and demanding, with gymnastics, athletics, tennis, football, rugby and hockey. Games lessons focus on football, rugby, hockey, netball and cricket, with regular fixtures beginning in Year 4. Swimming continues throughout Years 3–6 (one and a half terms per year), and PE lessons become increasingly skills-based.
Year 6 Children take on a new challenge with a half-year rowing programme, broadening their experience and teamwork skills ahead of senior school.
“The sports staff are such strong role models for the pupils – teaching them how to be brilliant and competitive, but still kind”
Fixtures & Achievements
Fixtures are a central part of sporting life at Orchard House. Matches take place across West London, hosted at Rocks Lane, Chiswick House Grounds, Chiswick Back Common and The Green. Pupils also compete in swimming galas, cross-country meets and athletics competitions, as well as prestigious national tournaments such as the IAPS series.
In addition, courtesy of Dukes Education, our pupils enjoy a calendar of fixtures and tournaments that bring together all Dukes schools in the area. These full-day events, such as the Dukes Swimming Gala, Dukes Netball Tournament, and other inter-school meets provide wonderful opportunities to compete within the Dukes family and foster a strong sense of community across schools.
Our pupils have achieved exceptional results. In 2023, the U11 netball team placed 2nd in the IAPS Nationals, and in 2024/25 they finished in the Top 8 nationally. Teams continue to record outstanding results, with a netball win rate of 90% and football at 70% in the 2024/25 season. Fifteen pupils were awarded sports scholarships that same year, a testament to their commitment, skill and the strength of our provision. Orchard House was also previously awarded the prestigious TES sports award, a national achievement reflecting our exceptional standard of teaching and achievements in sport.
Participation Opportunities
Sport at Orchard House isn’t reserved for the most able — it’s built around genuine opportunity for every pupil:
- Curriculum PE and Games for all year groups, building core skills from Early Years upwards
- Regular fixtures from Year 4, giving pupils real match experience as part of school teams
- After-school sports clubs, changing termly (see Wraparound & Clubs)
- Before-school training sessions for sports teams, running from 7.15am to 8.15am
- Squad and representative opportunities, for pupils progressing towards county or national-level competition
- Annual Sports Day, involving the whole school community at King’s House Sports Ground
Frequently Asked Questions
What sports does Orchard House School offer?
What age does sport start at Orchard House School?
Sport begins in Early Years (age 3), with a focus on fundamental movement skills through play-based activities. Structured sports like football, netball and gymnastics are introduced in Key Stage 1, swimming begins in Year 2, and regular competitive fixtures start in Year 4.
Where do PE and Games lessons take place?
Most sport takes place at outstanding local facilities just a five-minute walk from school, including Rocks Lane, Chiswick, Chiswick House Grounds, and Chiswick Back Common and The Green. Swimming is taught at Acton Leisure Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool, and Year 6 pupils row with Team Keane.
How can I find fixtures, results and match dates?
Current fixtures and results are published on our dedicated sports site, and recent match reports and season highlights also feature on our News page.
How do pupils get selected for school sports teams?
Pupils build core skills through curriculum PE and Games from Early Years onwards, with regular team fixtures beginning in Year 4. Pupils showing strong ability and commitment may progress to squad or representative opportunities, including county and national-level competition such as the IAPS series.
Does Orchard House compete against other schools?
Yes. Pupils compete in regular fixtures across West London, as well as swimming galas, cross-country meets, athletics competitions and national tournaments including the IAPS series. Through our partnership with Dukes Education, pupils also take part in inter-school events such as the Dukes Swimming Gala and Dukes Netball Tournament.
Are there sports clubs outside of curriculum PE?
Yes. Before-school training sessions run from 7.15am to 8.15am for various sports teams, and after-school sports clubs run termly as part of our wider Wraparound & Clubs offering.