It's a Netball match against local rivals in a competition that is all-consuming on the day. It's 20-20 at three quarter time. One player has not had any court time. Is she going to be put on the court for the final quarter? Or not?

This is a real time dilemma, lived out on a weekly basis in all school sports. For all the politically correct talk about performance and participation not being mutually exclusive, at this moment it would appear that they are. There is no good answer to this situation: put the...

It's almost all over. Another term come to an end. Another whirlwind of practices, matches, competitions, bus journeys, packed lunches and reported results. So, what has been achieved by it all? How is the world different for all that expenditure of effort, resources and emotional energy? And was it worth it?

The end of term is a time for assessment and reflection, based on the stark question: what is left when it's all over?

What are the possibilities? Maybe there are a few more trophies in the cabinet, on loan for a year, marking a...

There is an illogical irony in the boys’ Spring Term Games Programme of most independent schools. In the shortest term, in the worst of the winter weather, there are more competitive sports than any other term. This has created unsustainable overcrowding. Other terms also have a wide range of sporting activities on offer to pupils. However, the Spring Term is different. Most sports at that time of year are all aimed at the most able pupils, with the result that the same boys run from one activity to another. Practices are conducted at all sorts of unlikely times in order...