About Us

The National Council for School Sport is the forum body for competitive school sport.  We strongly believe that school competition promotes sporting, academic and social development. We offer school teams the chance to compete internationally through the International School Sports Federation. These events also have an educational focus which includes Cultural Days and the all important Nations Evening.

We work with NGBs and School Sports Associations to select school teams to represent England. In most sports there is a separate competition for boys and girls, but in some sports there are also mixed teams and National Teams. The Gymnasiade competition is based on National Teams, but in some circumstances it is possible for strong school teams to compete. We offer an International Training Day to prepare athletes for the Sporting and Cultural Programmes at ISF competitions.

Competing in ISF is an amazing experience. For some elite athletes it is a springboard to a career in sport. (105 members of Team GB in Rio started in National or International school sport). For other athletes it is their highest level of competition, an opportunity to represent England and to meet athletes from all over the world. ‘It was the best week of my life and it always will be!’ (player ISF Badminton in Malta)

All members of the NCSS are volunteers in school sport.  Our Council meets twice a year and each member sport can send up to three representatives to those meetings. The Officers are elected annually and meet frequently. We directly organise and administer England teams for ISF competitions and events.

NCSS makes a major contribution to the running of ISF Events. Our volunteers use their expertise on the sport specific Technical Commissions that officiate in ISF World Schools Championships and Gymnasiades. We are valued for our professionalism and organisational and language skills.

OfficersNameFurther information
PresidentPam BurrageVice President ISF Education Commission. Former President of ISF Tennis TC and Member ISF Executive
ChairIan IrelandISF Boxing TC President
Vice Chair 1Karen EriksonEducation Games, Special Olympics
Vice Chair 2Ian Roberts
Hon SecretaryMaureen HarcourtEnglish Schools Ski Association
Hon TreasurerJackie BedfordEnglish Schools Swimming Association
Committee MemberSue GarveyEnglish Schools Athletics Association
Council membersNameAssociation
School LinksRob Robson
American FootballTBCBritish American Football Association
AthleticsLynda LentonEnglish Schools Athletics Association, ISF TC member
BasketballTBCBasketball England
ChessAlex HolowczakEnglish Chess Federation
CricketKen LakeEnglish School Cricket Association
Football & FutsalDarren AllcockEnglish Schools Football Association
GymnasticsHoward ToddBritish Schools Gymnastics Association
SkiingGillian Gilyead & Mark VernonEnglish Schools Ski Association
SwimmingJohn StivenEnglish Schools Swimming Association, ISF TC & Former VC of NCSS
Table TennisRichard HudsonTable Tennis England & ISF TC member
TennisPam BurrageVice President ISF Education Commission. Former President of ISF Tennis TC and Member ISF Executive
VolleyballVolleyball England