From the Principal

I recently read some interesting research published by Sydney University that relates to sport and academic performance. In the first long-term study of its kind, published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, the researchers followed the sports participation of over 4000 Australian children from age 4 to 13. They then matched this with academic trajectory up to 21 years of age.

Overall, they found that continued sports participation during school years was linked to lower absenteeism, better attention and memory, higher end-of-school scores, and higher rates of studying at university.

The authors wrote that while the beneficial link between sport and academic performance is likely due to sustained physical activity, the study also highlights differences between those involved in individual sports (such as swimming or running) versus team sports.

Those in team sports had better performance on attention and working memory tests, fewer absent days without permission and were more likely to be awarded the HSC or equivalent (which in WA is the WACE). In comparison to those who did not participate in any sport, those with ongoing participation in individual sports had higher academic performance on end-of-school scores (ATAR).

The results of the new study are in line with an earlier systematic review by lead researcher, Dr Owen, in 2022. The review analysed 115 international studies (predominantly from the United States), totalling more than one million students, and found a positive link between participation in sport and academic performance. The new study used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) and included a nationally representative sample of children from throughout Australia.

Throughout the year so far, it has been a thrill to see so many of our students fully embrace the broad range of sporting activities on offer to them; be it within our College through our vibrant House competitions in both the Primary and Secondary schools, or the extension of this House involvement through the various College representative pathways competing against athletes from other schools at the NAS Carnivals and ACC A-Division Carnivals. The participation in last Friday’s Inter-House Cross-Country for the Secondary School and today’s Primary School Inter-House Cross-Country was exceptional.

As well as swimming and cross-country, our students have been heavily involved in netball, cricket, football and rowing, with our rowers successfully competing in last week’s IGSSA regatta and preparing for the Head of the River regatta later in the season. In addition, our athletes successfully competed in the National Junior Athletics Championships recently held in Perth and swam in the 2025 Australian Age-Group Swimming Championships held in Brisbane.

Our sporting program is both broad, enabling diverse interests to be catered for, and specialised enough to provide suitable pathways for those who aim to compete at the highest level. 

For those new to the College, please see attached an overview of the breadth and depth of the College’s sporting program.

Daniel Mahon

Principal