Dear Parents and Guardians,
As a management team we have given significant thought, over time, to the way we recognise achievement at Somerset House. In particular, we have spent many hours considering how we recognise sporting achievement, and we will be making some changes to our Sports Awards structure.
As our pupils’ progress through the school, we want our approach to sports recognition to reflect their stage of development and the different purpose that sport serves at different developmental stages.
In the Junior Primary years, our focus in sport is on encouraging participation, building confidence, developing fundamental skills and, above all, helping children discover the enjoyment of sport. We want pupils to experience success in many different ways, rather than placing too much emphasis on competition or individual achievement at a young age. A child who learns to catch, runs a little further or faster than before, encourages a teammate, or simply discovers that they love being active, has achieved something worthwhile. Recognition should therefore be given regularly and naturally within the sporting environment, and without an extensive or complex awards structure.
This does not mean that achievement is overlooked in the Junior Primary. Our Inter-House Athletics and SH Championship Gala provide opportunities for pupils in the Junior Primary who are ready for greater competition to test themselves and be recognised for their performances. The athletes and swimmers with the most points at the Inter-House Athletics Day and SH Championship Gala, will be awarded an age group trophy at the event, and a certificate to confirm their achievement at the JP Celebration Evening. Any U7 – U9 pupil who receives Zonal or Provincial representation in a school-based sporting code, will also be recognised at the JP Celebration Evening.
In Senior Primary, the purpose of sport begins to shift, and pupils are better equipped to understand commitment, perseverance, teamwork, leadership and sporting excellence. As competition becomes more meaningful, there is greater value in formally recognising these achievements and celebrating pupils who have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication and contribution to their teams and school over time. Rather than holding these awards during a school morning, we have taken the decision to hold the Senior Primary Sports Awards Celebration in the evening, and by invitation.
These changes are rooted in the simple principle that different stages of childhood call for different approaches. They are not about recognising achievement any less, but about recognising it in an appropriate manner for the stage of a child’s sporting, and developmental, journey.
We hope that this affords our younger pupils the opportunity to develop a love of sport before they feel the weight of competition, while our older pupils are given the opportunity to experience the satisfaction that comes from commitment, excellence and significant contribution.
Ultimately, our approach to sport in general is about more than merely producing winning performances. Our approach supports children discovering what they are capable of, learning to work with others, developing character and resilience, and finding joy in doing something well.
The challenge, as in so much of education, is knowing what matters most, and when.
JOHN HUGGETT – HEADMASTER
11 September 2026
