Studying for exams and passing them was a vital part of every pupil’s agenda at school.

But another key ingredient was keeping fit – and many would attempt to do so by taking part in the annual sports.

Many schools organised a summer sports day when pupils could display their skills at track and field events.

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Picture 1 shows girls at Matthew Arnold School at Cumnor, near Oxford, at the head of the 800-metre race in 1986.

Amanda Stratford, right, and Beth Joyner are seen leading the pack and went on to finish first and second.

The Oxford Mail cheekily asked if the girls were “just passing the time of day or discussing tactics” as they headed for the tape.

As in many schools, there was competition between the various school houses – that year, Keegan House took the honours.

In Picture 2, Daniela Penge is seen, with outstretched arms and flying ponytail, putting every effort into winning the junior high jump at Cheney School, Headington, in 1981.

S Bayle, right in Picture 3, also had his arms aloft as he pipped K Mobbs in a close finish to the junior 100 yards at the City of Oxford Boys’ School sports in 1964.

He had plenty of encouragement from spectators at the school’s sports ground in Marston Ferry Road.

The aim of many promising school athletes was to compete on Oxford University’s Iffley Road track, where Roger Bannister ran the first mile in under four minutes in 1954. Sir Roger died in 2018.

Picture 4 shows three competitors in the junior boys’ 800 metres there in 1994. The winner was Ross Harris, left, of Wheatley Park School.

Not all pupils could compete on the track at the same time – and athletes often appreciated the support they received from the terraces.

We see in Picture 5 a section of the large crowd which saw the city inter-schools’ championships at Iffley Road in 1963.

While in Picture 6, pupils and parents can be seen cheering on athletes at Donnington Junior School in Oxford the same year.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.