High jump standards by age
What's a good high jump at 11, 13, 15 or 17? Standards for boys and girls from U12 to senior — from your first competition to national level — plus the official English Schools heights and how to jump higher.
High jump coaching See the standards Written by Allan Smith: 2.29m high jump personal best, 4× British Champion, GB International and UKA Level 3 coach.The short answer
For a 14–15-year-old (U16), clearing 1.55–1.69m is county level for boys and 1.82m or higher is national level. For girls of the same age, 1.42–1.54m is county level and 1.64m or higher is national level. To enter the English Schools Championships in Years 10–11, boys need 1.88m and girls 1.65m.
Which age group am I in?
UK athletics age groups now run in two-year bands: U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20. Your age group is set by your age on 31 December of the competition year, so a 13-year-old with a birthday in November competes in U14 all season.
School competitions are different. The English Schools Championships group athletes by school year: Junior (U15), Intermediate (Years 10–11, U17) and Senior (Years 12–13, U19). Scottish Schools uses U16, U18 and U20. The tables below follow the club age groups; the official schools heights are further down.
High jump standards by age: boys and girls
Choose boys or girls, find your age group, then find the band that contains your best competition height. The gold column is national level for that age.
Boys and men — high jump standards
Metres · best competition height| Age group | Getting started | Club | County | Regional | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U12age 10–11 | Under 1.10 | 1.10–1.24 | 1.25–1.34 | 1.35–1.44 | 1.45+ |
| U14age 12–13 | Under 1.25 | 1.25–1.39 | 1.40–1.52 | 1.53–1.64 | 1.65+ |
| U16age 14–15 | Under 1.40 | 1.40–1.54 | 1.55–1.69 | 1.70–1.81 | 1.82+ |
| U18age 16–17 | Under 1.50 | 1.50–1.64 | 1.65–1.79 | 1.80–1.94 | 1.95+ |
| U20age 18–19 | Under 1.55 | 1.55–1.69 | 1.70–1.84 | 1.85–1.99 | 2.00+ |
| Senior20+ | Under 1.60 | 1.60–1.79 | 1.80–1.94 | 1.95–2.09 | 2.10+ |
Heights in metres, cleared in competition. Find the band that contains your best height.
Girls and women — high jump standards
Metres · best competition height| Age group | Getting started | Club | County | Regional | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U12age 10–11 | Under 1.05 | 1.05–1.19 | 1.20–1.29 | 1.30–1.39 | 1.40+ |
| U14age 12–13 | Under 1.20 | 1.20–1.32 | 1.33–1.44 | 1.45–1.54 | 1.55+ |
| U16age 14–15 | Under 1.30 | 1.30–1.41 | 1.42–1.54 | 1.55–1.63 | 1.64+ |
| U18age 16–17 | Under 1.35 | 1.35–1.46 | 1.47–1.59 | 1.60–1.68 | 1.69+ |
| U20age 18–19 | Under 1.40 | 1.40–1.51 | 1.52–1.62 | 1.63–1.71 | 1.72+ |
| Senior20+ | Under 1.45 | 1.45–1.59 | 1.60–1.69 | 1.70–1.79 | 1.80+ |
Heights in metres, cleared in competition. Find the band that contains your best height.
The bands are anchored on the English Schools' Athletic Association standards for each age group. A height only counts if it was cleared in competition — training heights are usually a few centimetres higher.
English Schools high jump standards
The English Schools' Athletic Association sets five standards for every age group, from school level to the national standard. The entry standard is the height usually needed to be selected for the national championships.
English Schools' standards
Metres| Group | School | District | County | Entry | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior boysU15 | 1.45 | 1.50 | 1.60 | 1.72 | 1.78 |
| Inter boysU17 · Years 10–11 | 1.50 | 1.60 | 1.70 | 1.88 | 1.94 |
| Senior boysU19 · Years 12–13 | — | 1.60 | 1.70 | 1.95 | 2.01 |
| Junior girlsU15 | 1.30 | 1.40 | 1.45 | 1.56 | 1.62 |
| Inter girlsU17 · Years 10–11 | 1.35 | 1.45 | 1.50 | 1.65 | 1.71 |
| Senior girlsU19 · Years 12–13 | — | 1.45 | 1.50 | 1.66 | 1.72 |
Source: English Schools' Athletic Association standards tables, 2025. Entry is the usual selection height for the national championships. Heights in metres.
Competing in Scotland? At the 2026 Scottish Schools Championships the bar started at 1.40m for U16 boys and 1.30m for U16 girls, and 1.55m for U18 and U20 boys and 1.40m for U18 and U20 girls. You need to be clearing the starting height comfortably to stay in the competition.
What makes a good high jumper
Height helps, but it isn't everything. Sweden's Stefan Holm was 1.81m tall and cleared 2.40m. What every good high jumper has is speed they can control and a take-off that turns it into height.
Approach speed
A faster approach means more energy to turn upwards — but only if you can still take off properly. Controlled speed beats flat-out speed.
The penultimate step
The second-to-last step lowers the hips so you can drive up. It's where most of the height in a good jump is made.
A stiff, quick take-off
The take-off foot is on the ground for a fraction of a second. Elastic strength lets the leg act like a spring rather than collapsing.
Leaning away on the curve
Running the curve with the body leaning away from the bar sets up the rotation that carries you over it.
Bar clearance
Head back, hips up, legs late. Good clearance can add several centimetres without jumping any higher.
The Fosbury flop, step by step
Almost every competitive high jumper uses the Fosbury flop. Beginners usually learn the scissors first, then move to the flop once they're confident and jumping onto a proper landing bed.
J-shaped approach
Run straight for the first part, then curve in towards the bar for the last four or five strides. Experienced jumpers use around eight to ten strides; beginners five to seven.
Lean away
On the curve, lean your whole body away from the bar, like a runner on a bend. Don't drop your inside shoulder.
Lower, then plant
Lower your hips on the penultimate step, then plant the take-off foot — the one furthest from the bar — quickly, pointing along the line of the run.
Drive up
Drive the free knee and both arms upwards. Jump up, not into the bar: the rotation will turn you.
Clear the bar
Head back and hips up as you go over, then lift your legs and land on your upper back and shoulders.
Common mistakes: running too fast to take off, drifting along the bar instead of over it, taking off too close, and looking down at the bar. Most of them start with an inconsistent approach — so fix the run-up first.
How high jump competitions work
- Three attempts per height. Three failures in a row, at any heights, and you're out.
- You can pass. You can skip a height to save energy, but your failures carry over to the next height you try.
- The bar only goes up. It rises by a set amount each round, often in smaller steps as the bar gets higher.
- Ties are decided on countback. First by the fewest failures at the last height cleared, then by the fewest failures across the whole competition. A tie for first place can go to a jump-off.
Why it matters: clearing heights first time often wins medals. Choosing a sensible starting height and not wasting attempts is part of the event.
How to jump higher
Most young jumpers have far more height in them than they show. Better technique gives the quickest gains; strength and power keep the progress going for years.
Fix the approach
A measured, repeatable run-up with marks, so every jump starts from the same place. Consistency comes before height.
Take-off drills
Short-approach jumps and drills that teach the penultimate step and a quick, tall take-off.
Plyometrics
Hops, bounds and jumps that build the springy, reactive strength a take-off needs. Little and often, with good landings.
Strength
Squats, single-leg work and calf strength. Stronger legs can handle a faster approach without collapsing.
Sprint speed
A quicker, more controlled approach starts with better sprinting. This is where our sprint coaching and high jump coaching meet.
When to work on it: technique and strength are best built in the autumn and early winter, sharpened through the indoor season, and tested over the outdoor season from spring to late summer.
High jump coaching from a 2.29m jumper
Allan Smith competed for Great Britain, won four British titles and has a 2.29m personal best. He coaches high jumpers of every level, alongside sprint coaching for every sport.
Your first session includes a full technique assessment.
Choose a time online and confirm instantly.
More athletics standards
High jump standards: common questions
What is a good high jump for a 12-year-old?
A 12-year-old usually competes in U14. For boys, 1.40–1.52m is county level and 1.65m or higher is national level. For girls, 1.33–1.44m is county level and 1.55m or higher is national level.
What is a good high jump for a 14-year-old?
At 14–15 (U16), boys clearing 1.55–1.69m are at county level and 1.82m or higher is national level. Girls clearing 1.42–1.54m are at county level, and 1.64m or higher is national level.
What height do you need for the English Schools Championships?
The 2025 English Schools entry standards were 1.72m for junior boys and 1.56m for junior girls, 1.88m and 1.65m for intermediates (Years 10–11), and 1.95m and 1.66m for seniors (Years 12–13).
Which age group am I in?
UK athletics age groups run in two-year bands: U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20. Your age group is set by your age on 31 December of the competition year. School championships use school years instead.
Do you have to be tall to be a good high jumper?
Height helps, but approach speed and take-off technique matter more. Sweden's Stefan Holm was 1.81m tall and cleared 2.40m.
Should beginners learn the scissors or the Fosbury flop?
Most beginners learn the scissors first to understand the approach and take-off, then move to the Fosbury flop once they're confident and jumping onto a proper landing bed.
How many steps should a high jump approach be?
Experienced jumpers usually use around eight to ten strides in a J-shaped approach, with the last four or five on the curve. Beginners use a shorter approach of five to seven strides.
How are ties decided in the high jump?
On countback: first by the fewest failures at the last height cleared, then by the fewest failures in the whole competition. A tie for first place can be decided by a jump-off.
Ready to raise the bar?
Book a session with a 2.29m high jumper and find out where your next centimetres are coming from.
High jump coaching Ask a question