Saturday fixtures have existed in schools as long as sport has been a feature. Initially a way of filling time in boarding schools, they were enthusiastically embraced by day schools, and have an unbroken history going back more than 100 years. They survived intact when many schools abandoned Saturday morning lessons, and still thrive in many environments. The keenest pupils continue to value the opportunity, enjoy the bus ride and participate enthusiastically with their friends. However, there are constant pressures that increase incrementally, and will influence the future shape of this programme.

The honour of selection is not what...

Saturdays have changed significantly in independent schools in the last 30 years. Morning school has become a thing of the past, except in the fullest of boarding sectors. Its loss was little bemoaned. However, other dimensions of Saturday school – principally sports fixtures – remain intact. There may be more in the morning than in previous years, but the majority of schools still operate a significant part of their inter-school competition at the weekend. Other schools never had Saturday lessons, but always operated inter-school sport at that time.

This creates a challenge for staffing. When the majority of teachers...

Where Have All the Graduate Assistants Gone?

School sport has wandered into a workforce crisis. At a time when programmes are wider, more extensive and inclusive than ever before, the coaching population is more limited, especially on Saturdays. Many of the staple constituencies, including classroom teachers and part-time coaches, have contracted, leaving a constant challenge to resource programme ambitions. Parental expectations of quality have increased, as quantity of deliverers has shrunk.

This is the background of the rise of the graduate sports assistant in schools. A relatively recent addition to sports departments, schools have come to depend upon...