Pangbourne College is celebrating a remarkable year of sporting success, as its teams and athletes continue to excel across multiple disciplines. Thanks to our forward-thinking sports strategy and a newly implemented timetable, every pupil now has bespoke access to top-tier facilities and elite coaching, unlocking their full potential.

This year has seen an influx of expert coaching, with professionals boasting Premier League and international sporting experience working with students from every year group. The impact is already evident, as Pangbourne’s sports teams are making their mark on regional and national stages.

Breaking New Ground in Sport

One of the biggest milestones this year has been the introduction of girls' football as a main sport in the Lent term. This move is already proving successful, providing more opportunities for female athletes to compete and thrive. Our Assistant Director of Sport, Louise Tremlett says:

“The enthusiasm and enjoyment surrounding our newly introduced football program have soared, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our highly qualified football coaches. Their passion, skill, and commitment have fostered an energetic and supportive environment, inspiring players to build confidence and teamwork.

Incorporating football into the timetable allows us to have expert coaches at every training session, ensuring players receive the guidance they need to grow and excel. This was evident in the recent success of our Junior A football team, who secured a fantastic 3-0 victory—a remarkable achievement, especially as many pupils were experiencing the game for the first time.

Under their leadership, we have witnessed incredible growth in confidence, teamwork, and a deep love for football—laying the foundation for future success both on and off the field.”

Notable Individual Achievements

Several Pangbourne students are making headlines with their individual accomplishments on the national and international stage:

• One Upper Sixth student is in the final rounds of GB Rowing trials.
• Mia, a standout hockey player, has achieved international success as part of the U21 Great Britain Hockey Team.
• Year 10 and 11 boys are currently taking part in Scotland U16 Rugby trials.

Team Success on the Rise

Pangbourne’s teams are also delivering outstanding performances:

• The Rugby 7s U16 squad reached the quarter-finals of the All England Tournament and the U18s secured third place in a recent regional competition.
• The rowing teams made waves with strong performances at the Bristol Avon Regatta.
• Our Deputy Head of Co-curricular, Richard Follett says, ‘It was great to finally get on the water last weekend and the whole club showed that their consistent efforts in land training have paid off. With seven gold medal wins across the club and a large number of second place finishes too, this was our best collection of successes at a single event for many years.’
• The equestrian team impressed, finishing second in county dressage and qualifying for Hickstead (24–26 May) and the NSEA National Finals.

In rugby, 10 students have earned spots in the Ealing Trailfinders Academy, with others developing through pathways at Bath DPP and Gloucester DPP — a testament to the school’s strong partnerships with elite clubs.

A Vision for Sporting Excellence

Our Assistant Director of Sport, Louise Tremlett, played a crucial role in the incredible success of our Hockey teams last season.

"It has been fantastic to see the growing passion for hockey at Pangbourne. The recent success of our U16s as County Champions, the U14A girls’ unbeaten run, the 1st team reaching the Indoor Regional Finals, and our players competing at national, county, and talent academy levels all reflect their hard work and the strength of our programme. With dedicated coaching and structured development opportunities, the future of hockey at the College looks very bright." - Louise Tremlett.

Reflecting on the school’s progress, Director of Sport, Sam Hewick, has said:

“The green shoots of success are emerging from the clear planning and implementation of our five-year strategy, with the aim of establishing Pangbourne as one of the top sporting schools in the South East. Our strategy centres on great coaching and enabling unrivalled access to every pupil. It’s also fantastic to see our partnerships with Ealing Trailfinders and Reading Hockey Club beginning to flourish.”

The Head of Pangbourne College, Oli Knight, shared his thoughts:

“I am delighted with the recent success of our sports teams. Sport is an integral part of the Pangbourne experience and we want to provide as many opportunities as possible for our students to compete. The sports pitch can be an unforgiving arena but it is one where we learn a lot about ourselves and what it means to be part of a team.” 

With a solid foundation and a clear vision, Pangbourne College is on a fast track to becoming a powerhouse of school sport. The future looks incredibly bright for the next generation of Pangbourne athletes.