We are delighted to announce that boys’ football will be introduced as a core sports option for Years 9-11 through a phased roll-out in the Lent term starting from next academic year. Girls’ football will be expanded as an activity option with fixtures introduced the following academic year. Hockey will remain a key sport at Cranleigh for all ages.
The boys’ football programme will run during the Lent term and cater both to high-performance and high participation. This aligns with the school’s strong sporting ethos and will include competitive fixtures. Building on our proud football tradition in the Sixth Form – where our 1st XI team reached the National ISFA Shield final in both 2023 and 2024 – this expansion will further enhance our commitment to excellence in sport. Currently, six senior football teams represent Cranleigh in the Lent term, with Sixth Form pupils already enjoying the flexibility to choose their preferred sports.
State-of-the-Art Provision
To support this development, we are investing in a high-class football provision:
- New 3G Football Pitch – One of our existing AstroTurf pitches will be resurfaced into a prime 3G football playing surface for training and matches by September 2026.
- Premier Grass Pitches – Bluetts playing field will be enhanced into one of the finest school surfaces in the country, hosting 1st XI matches in the Lent term and 1st XV Rugby games in the Michaelmas term.
- Expert Coaching – We will be enhancing our already high-quality coaching provision by adding extra top-tier coaches to nurture talent at all levels.
Phased Roll-Out
To ensure a smooth transition, boys’ football will be introduced in stages:
Lent 2026 – Years 11-13 (Upper Fifth & Sixth Form)
Lent 2027 – Years 10-13 (Lower Fifth & above)
Lent 2028 – Years 9-13 (All eligible years)
Girls’ Football Expansion
We are also committed to growing girls’ football at Cranleigh. Next year, the girls’ programme will be enhanced with expanded football activity sessions at both junior and senior age groups as well as a revamped House Competition to encourage participation. As interest grows, we plan to introduce external fixtures in 2026/27. We remain wholly committed to developing our first class girls’ hockey and netball programmes, alongside this football expansion.
Boys’ Hockey & Boys’ Rugby: A Continued Commitment
Boys’ hockey will continue to be a flagship sport at Cranleigh across all age groups. The school has a proud and successful history in the sport, with our 1st XI finishing as runners-up in the Tier 1 U18 England Hockey tournament in 2024 and producing numerous international players at both age-grade and senior levels. Boys’ hockey will remain a core sport option for all in the Lent term and whilst the introduction of boys’ football in this term may affect participation numbers, our commitment to high-quality coaching and top-tier facilities remains steadfast.
The 1st XI Boys’ Hockey team will train both outdoors and indoors during the Michaelmas term alongside participation in another Michaelmas sport, ensuring a balanced and varied sporting experience. They will continue to compete in the Tier 1 National Competition throughout the Michaelmas and Lent terms. Additionally, at the senior level, high-performance players will have the opportunity to represent top-tier club sides on Saturdays during the Michaelmas term.
Rugby will remain the core sport for boys’ during the Michaelmas term with the majority of boys choosing this as a part of our rich and varied sporting programme. As a school we take great pride in our status of leading one of the premier boys’ rugby programmes in the country, with a dozen Old Cranleighans currently playing professional rugby and school teams continuing to win national titles.
We are incredibly excited about this new chapter in Cranleigh’s sporting journey and look forward to seeing our pupils thrive in an expanded, high-quality football programme as part of their sporting experience.
