ONE of the leading schools in Worcestershire has been named in the top 30 schools for sport in the country.

King’s Worcester has been named by School Sports Magazine in the top 1% of sporting schools in the country this week, alongside some of the country’s top sporting independent and state schools, such as Millfield, Epsom College, and Repton School.

The school has jumped 98 places in the last 12 months and this Top 30 ranking puts King’s in the top 1% as well as being the only school in Worcester to appear in the Top 165.

The list is compiled from 20 different sports and over 120 different events and weighting is given to success in a range of sports rather than a particular sport, and to those sports with more schools competing. To be listed, schools must have reached the later stages of at least two, three or four national competitions.

Foundation Director of Sport, Jonny Mason commented: "This is fantastic news for sport at King’s.

"We’ve had busy and successful few years recently, and the hard work that both the Sports Department and the pupils have put in has really paid off.

"We are so fortunate, as a day school, to be able to offer such a wide range of sports and to compete in these at national level. Consistently playing at such a standard takes skill, resilience, and determination."

Headmaster Gareth Doodes added: "Sport has always been incredibly strong here at King’s and it’s wonderful to be recognised for this and to be up there with the best sports schools in the country.

"We are fortunate to have an enviable, finely honed, and impressive sports programme, with dedicated and professional experts guiding the pupils to achieve their very best and more, both collectively and individually.

"The opportunity for our pupils to play at national level is something that most of us could only have dreamed of as a child."