Participation in sports has so many physical and mental health benefits from building confidence, developing strength, boosting mood, improving sleep and forming friendships. As a core part of life at BGS, sport is accessible to all with a wide range of opportunities from curriculum sports like netball, cricket and hockey through to more wide-ranging options including climbing, padel, squash and rugby so that there is something that appeals to everyone.
However, we know that there are certain hurdles, that can create challenges and impact interest and enthusiasm in sport participation. It is estimated that over 1 million girls (in their teens) drop out of sport every year with 61% reporting a lack of confidence as the reason, with body image and being judged also key factors in choosing to quit a sport they previously enjoyed.
Understanding this key developmental time, here at BGS we want to help to reduce that number by supporting all our pupils as they find their sport or exercise and providing them with the information that they need to make informed, confident decisions.
In support of this commitment, we are delighted to share our new partnership with PEBE, a specialist sports bra company. PEBE visited BGS this week to deliver educational talks and professional fitting workshops. Covering topics such as the importance of a well-fitting sports bra and how to identify the best option in shops, pupils were also taught how to measure and calculate their bra size correctly. These tailored sessions were delivered in a thoughtful and considered way to different year groups, enabling pupils to feel comfortable to ask questions and providing them with useful, age-appropriate information. Pupils were also invited to fitting workshops in small groups, should they wish, where they were introduced to PEBE products.
We are proud to have committed to this initiative off the back of research which has shown that wearing a well-fitted, high-quality sports bra can improve athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury, and enhance self-confidence. It was clear from our pupils’ reactions that these sessions achieved just that. One pupil said; "The talk we had was really relatable and the information was very specific to our age group, which made the session feel really comfortable and we were able to ask questions we wouldn't have had the chance to ask.”
BGS staff were so impressed by the respectful discussions, as well as the enthusiasm sparked in our pupils: “I think it is a really great initiative. I wish I had heard from someone like this when I was at school – it’s a real game changer.”
It was a joy to see such a supportive atmosphere, and we hope that everyone who took part found it to be a valuable experience. One Year 8 commented; “I just wanted to say thank you for running this session. We all thought it was going to be a bit awkward and uncomfortable, but it has been so great!”
