Athletics

Athletics is open to all students throughout the academic year, with opportunities tailored to both full-time athletes and those participating as part of a multi-sport pathway. 

Athletics Year-Round Programme (Years 11–13)
Students in Years 11 to 13 have the option to pursue Athletics as their single-sport commitment. These student-athletes benefit from a year-round programme that includes: 

• Event-specific technical coaching 
• Strength & Conditioning training
• Student-athlete education sessions 

Full-time athletes will have the opportunity to compete in Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor competitions, aligned with their event group and seasonal calendar.

Below is an example of a weekly schedule by session theme. 

Weekly Coaching Schedule: 
Monday: General Preparation 
Tuesday: Technical (Event-specific) 
Wednesday: Strength & Conditioning 
Thursday: Rest 
Friday: Technical (Event-specific) 
Saturday: Strength & Conditioning 
Sunday: Rest 

Note: Weekly content will vary depending on both year group and event group. 

One to One Coaching (Sixth Form only) 
Individual coaching sessions may be integrated into the weekly or bi-weekly schedule for Sixth Form students who have achieved the English Schools’ National Standard in their chosen event. These sessions are tailored to the athlete’s developmental needs and are arranged with consideration for their academic commitments and the availability of coaching staff. Sessions may focus on event-specific technical work, strength and conditioning, or theory/education based. 

Multi-Sport Athletics (All Year Groups) 
Athletics is also offered as part of our multi-sport programme, allowing all students to participate at least once per week throughout the year. 

We have an Open Athletics session available for all students to sign up to on Thursdays after school during terms 1 & 2. During term 3, Athletics is a 'Competitive Sport of the Term' option for all year groups. 

Multi-sport athletes are also eligible for selection in fixtures and championship events, providing competitive opportunities for committed individuals throughout the school year. 

Cross Country 
Our Cross Country (XC) season runs from October to March, beginning with the English Schools’ Cross Country Cup in October. This competition is made up of three stages: the County round (held in September/October), followed by the Regional Final in November, and concluding with the National Final in December. 

From January to March, the focus shifts to championship events. During this time, students have the opportunity to progress through various levels—starting with the Mendip Area Schools’ XC (hosted by Millfield), then moving on to the Somerset Schools’ XC, the South West Schools’ XC, and finally the prestigious English Schools’ National Championships. 

In addition to these major events, we also take part in several local school fixtures between September and March. These provide valuable opportunities for all interested students to experience competitive cross country running. While students compete for themselves as individuals, Cross Country is fundamentally a team sport. Teams typically consist of six runners, with the top four finishers scoring points toward the team’s overall result. 

Track and Field 
The championship season for Track and Field closely mirrors that of Cross Country, with students competing in the Mendip Schools’ (hosted by Millfield), Somerset Schools’, South West Schools’, and ultimately the English Schools Championships. 

We also take part in the prestigious Achilles Relays in Oxford—a historic event held at the iconic Iffley Road track, which has been running since 1963. In addition, we host a variety of events on campus, including the Millfield Grand Prix, the Millfield PB Classic (now in it’s 30th year) in partnership with the British Milers’ Club (BMC), and two rounds of the English Schools Track and Field Cup. 

For indoor competition, our year-round athletes—typically from Years 11 to 13—have the opportunity to compete in two events held at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff. These usually include the Cardiff Met Open Meet and the Welsh Under-20 Championships.