Sport is an essential part of our social and cultural landscape and with women’s sports shining increasingly brightly on the national stage, there are role models galore for the next generation of would-be Olympians. But reaching the lofty heights of international sport is not for the faint hearted and it takes far more than just talent, as many of Putney’s exceptional sportswomen will testify.

Balancing the demands of both academics and sporting performance is one of the most difficult tasks for any student athlete, particularly those performing at the highest levels. Even on an average day, there is just so much to cram in. With a busy timetable of lessons – not to mention co-curricular activities – pupils, parents and their teachers have to become quite adept at juggling their time. If not managed well, the added pressures of training and competing in sport at a national level can mean something has to slip.

With so much of a young athlete’s time spent at school, we are well placed to assist with both management and keeping the balance that is required. At Putney, elite sportswomen benefit from a designated mentor to track their progress. They are there to monitor academic attainment and make sure studies stay on track. Simple things like looking ahead to an elite athlete’s sporting calendar make it easier to plan studies around training and competitions, notifying teachers ahead of time so that deadlines can be altered accordingly and workloads remain manageable.

Putney prides itself on being down-to-earth but also knows full well that technology, science and in-depth analysis now have a major influence in sport and players can use this to their advantage. Our elite athletes attend the Advance Performance Lab for baseline testing to compare themselves to the national average and take part in specialist strength and conditioning training.

In tennis, our recent U13 national championship win is just one example of how increasing numbers of elite players are choosing to pursue their tennis careers alongside a Putney education. Emilia Julin in Year 9 (second from left) was on the winning team; she told us,

“I want to be a great professional tennis player but I know how hard it is. I’m lucky that Putney is allowing me to focus on my tennis while ensuring I also achieve academically.”

In 2019 we were delighted to be named one of the top five schools for would-be Olympians in the Tatler Schools Guide. If we carry on the way we’re going, the sky certainly is the limit.