Rowing regattas under threat in APS private school sport review

Saturday morning private school sport — including rowing regattas — are under review, with a move away from elite competitive sports and a battle to attract teachers being blamed.

Saturday morning private school sport — including rowing regattas— are under review by the state’s peak school sporting body.

Saturday morning private school sport — including rowing regattas with a 150-year tradition — are under review by the state’s peak school sporting body.

Cost pressures, a move away from elite competitive sports and a battle to attract teachers have promoted the overhaul, which will assess level of participation and financial sustainability.

The review has been announced by the Associated Public Schools of Victoria, a body which has co-ordinated a sporting competition between some of the state’s most prestigious schools for more than 100 years.

The APS, as it is known, runs the internationally recognised Head of the River Regatta, first held in 1868.

It co-ordinates sporting events for schools including Melbourne Grammar, Haileybury, Carey Grammar, Brighton Grammar, Wesley College, Xavier College, St Kevin’s College and Scotch College.

The competition covers 20 sports, including rowing, netball, basketball, football, swimming and soccer.

A final copy of the review document obtained by the Herald Sun shows it will begin this year and will assess the “ambition” of APS sport including the “role of sport and physical education in student health and wellbeing”.

Cost pressures, a move away from elite competitive sports and a battle to attract teachers have promoted the overhaul.

Other terms of reference include “the needs and wants of all our students, from those picking up a ball for the first time to aspiring professional athletes” and the “unique heritage of APS sport”.

It will also include an assessment of the “strategic objectives and constraints” of member schools.

It comes as Haileybury announced it will pull out of rowing at the end of 2025.

One source said it was “confusing” that APS was finding sport a challenge.

“Plenty of alumni would want to know institutions like Head of the River are under review,” he said.

“It seems that the value of sport in developing young people is now undervalued and the education elite now don’t appreciate these memories and learnings that their now clients had.”

Former principal of Carey Grammar Phil De Young, who has also worked in senior roles at Trinity Grammar, Wesley College and Caulfield Grammar, said schools were facing a number of challenges with regard to interschool sport.

“This review is timely. Will it lead to the end of Saturday sport? No. Will it lead to a rationalisation? Yes, this is likely,” he said.

“Not only are the fixtures problematic as they are designed for three terms, not four, but schools are looking at how to resource a very extensive program.”

The APS co-ordinates sporting events for schools including Melbourne Grammar, Haileybury, Carey Grammar, Brighton Grammar, Wesley College, Xavier College, St Kevin’s College and Scotch College.

He said schools were under pressure to reduce the non-educational load on teachers, which led to some schools like Trinity Grammar now only requiring them to supervise one sport, not two.

“At some schools such as Caulfield Grammar and Mentone Grammar there is no sport requirement on teachers,” he said.

“This leads to a great cost in hiring and recruiting external coaches, with some schools needing over 200 a year,” Mr De Young said.

“This review would be driven in part by this cost component but also pressure from families and kids over the demands of playing two sports in one year - summer and winter”.

“There’s a third factor which is whether society believes there needs to be such a focus on competitive sport these days,” Mr De Young said.

Another source with long ties to private schools said many schools were battling to include students “who aren’t as talented”.

“Should sport be so focused on first competitions? Maybe not, but you have to be careful not to give all kids a blue ribbon.”

“The review is not a bad thing as long as it doesn’t lose sight of the benefits of sport and the need to instil a love of games, fitness and health,” he said.

He said most kids liked playing sport but parents also had other commitments on Saturday mornings.

Any changes to APS sport would free up top school footballers to play for the AFL’s under 18 league, as many schools require students to prioritise their Saturday morning sporting matches over other commitments.

The APS chair has been contacted for comment.