Rowing is extremely popular here at Perkins, and is the school’s major elite sport.
Our rowers’ journeys begin in Year 8, with a whole-season ‘Ready To Row’ programme. These sessions involve a foundation in Strength and Conditioning, fun games to develop enjoyment of sport and physical health, as well an introduction to the rowing machine and education on the wider world of rowing. At the end of the Summer Term, our Year 8s get their first taste of life on the water, with their three-day Learn to Row Course.
Years 8 - Ready To Row
Our rowers’ journeys begin in Year 8, with a whole-season ‘Ready To Row’ programme. These sessions involve a foundation in Strength and Conditioning, fun games to develop enjoyment of sport and physical health, as well an introduction to the rowing machine and education on the wider world of rowing. At the end of the Summer Term, our Year 8s get their first taste of life on the water, with their three-day Learn to Row Course.
Years 9 & 10
Rowing in Year 9 becomes a full co-curricular option with four sessions on offer each week, as we develop a group of beginners to the point where they can race nationally for the first time.
From Year 10 onwards, we offer a performance pathway for those looking to be competitive in the sport and keen to see how good they can become. We also offer a Recreational Rowing route from Year 10-13 as part of games afternoons.
Senior Squad (Year 11-13) – A Programme for Elite Performance, Open to All
Our Senior Squad programme is designed to support rowers and coxes with the potential for national and international success to progress to become the best athletes they can possibly be. However, importantly there is no minimum performance criteria for Senior Squad membership, other than full commitment to the training programme. For some rowers, national and international success may not be realistic, but racing well at local races and aiming for PBs in land testing are equally motivating targets for the wide array of athletes in this Squad.
In recent years, Perkins has had rowers competing and winning international medals for Great Britain and England at U19 and U16 level, as well as competing in the Semi-Finals and Quarter-Finals at the prestigious Henley Women’s and Royal Regattas against some of the best school crews in the world. Perkins crews regularly win medals at the top national races in the UK, currently holding the British Rowing Junior Championship title in the WJ18 Pair. In 2021 and 2024, former pupil Hattie Taylor represented SWPS as part of Team GB at the Olympic Games, finishing 4th in the Women’s Four in Tokyo, then winning a brilliant Bronze Medal in the GB Women’s Eight in Paris! 2024 also saw the first ever representation for Perkins in the GB team at the World Rowing U19 Championships, with athletes racing to 6th in the World in the U19 Women’s Pair, and an amazing Silver Medal in the U19 Women’s Four.
The Boat Club
The Boat Club was opened in 2016 as part of the School’s Building Development programme and is situated at Laleham Reach, a short distance from the School.
Address:
SWPS Boat Club
Thameside
Laleham, Middlesex
TW18 1UQ
