At OIS we believe that a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand, so we encourage our students to participate in competitive and non-competitive sports. We take part in the CHESS (Council of Heads of English Speaking Schools) league fixtures with our competitive teams, and every afternoon, we have year-group sports activities for children who want to have fun playing games.

Our students participate in football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, surfing and a host of other sports.

Within the curriculum, all MYP students will study Physical and Health Education (PHE). The course fosters the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will contribute to a student’s balanced and healthy lifestyle. It’s much more than simply playing sport or doing PE. Through opportunities for active learning, this subject embodies and promotes the holistic nature of well-being.

In the Diploma Programme, students can opt to study Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences (SEHS). The course incorporates the disciplines of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition, which are studied in the context of sport, exercise and health.

What’s more, with so much space on the quinta, we are also able to allow OIS students to bring in their mountain bikes to ride on the tracks they have made on the sides of the valley. Whilst not competitive, it is still a very good way to get some fresh air and burn off energy during lunchtime. Other students enjoy skateboarding and rollerblading.

In addition, one or two diehards will take the opportunity to do a bit of extra training on our arduous and demanding cross-country course. The course has a fierce reputation for the severity of its ascents and descents, and we host several inter-school tournaments each year. These are always great community events, and despite the difficulty of the course, hundreds of students and staff will compete.

There is a vibrant surf culture at OIS, with many of our students taking advantage of post-study surf school classes. Certain days of the week see the tops of student lockers crowded with surfboards, and surfing is popular with both boys and girls. Students are picked up at the end of the day by the surf school, taken to surf for a couple of hours, and then parents collect them later from the beach. Other students take advantage of our proximity to the sea by sailing at one of the local clubs.

Facilities

Our students enjoy an all-weather pitch, an indoor gym, a multisport outdoor pavilion and a series of basketball courts. These are open for students during break and lunch and are a popular place to socialize and play. The new multisport pavilion provides a uniquely green venue, which is very fitting for OIS.

Plus, the pavilion is used for basketball and volleyball, but also doubles as a lovely venue for school events, such as graduation and music productions. It was designed to be open to the air as much as possible, whilst protecting players from the sun and the occasional rainstorm. Surrounded by trees waving gently in the breeze, it is a delightful place to either play or watch from the bleachers.