More than a third of British medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics attended independent schools, a new Schools Week analysis has revealed.
The publication found that 35 per cent of medal winners had attended an independent school for at least part of their schooling up to the aged of 16.
Independent school alumni were notable for dominating in a number of fields, including modern pentathlon, shooting and sailing. In rowing, eight out of 13 medallists were independently educated.
Strikingly, nine of the 16-strong women’s hockey team who won bronze were privately educated.
But sporting pupils in state schools need not despair: the analysis showed that there were nine sports with 20 British medallists that had only state-educated winners, including BMX biking and boxing among others.
Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, said the sector had been “integral” to the national effort behind the games.
She said it had provided bursaries, scholarships, partnerships and club level support, as well as sharing coaching and mentoring opportunities.