Cricket and Netball Festivals were first held in 2017, as part of our Partnership Events Programme and have run annually since (except in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions). The longevity of these events highlights their significant impact in fostering an interest in new sports and encouraging ongoing participation.
Nurturing young talent in Cricket
Ahead of the 7th Annual Cricket Festival for Under 10’s, coaching was provided over 2 months by qualified Cricket Coaches to 480 children in Year 5 across 10 schools. This equated to 14 hours of free cricket coaching where the pupils enhanced their batting, bowling and fielding skills.
Their hard work and enthusiasm were evident at the Cricket Festival held in July 2024 at Trent College, where 80 children represented their schools in a series of short matches and showcased all they had learnt while enjoying the friendly competition. The event was supported by eight Trent College pupils in Year 8 who played the vital roles of umpiring and scoring. The enjoyable experience was an excellent insight into the management and organisation of sporting events as well as providing the opportunity to develop their communication skills and confidence when interacting with new people.
The programme is one of many initiatives led by Primary School Liaison Manager, Mrs Rhodes, who reflects on this year’s event “It was fantastic to introduce so many children to cricket. For some, it was their first time experiencing the sport, and watching them quickly grasp the rules and techniques was rewarding for all. Through our engagement, we hope to inspire the children to either start or continue playing cricket in their local clubs or schools.”
Building team spirit and skills in Netball
The U10 Bee Netball Festival, aligned with England Netball’s fun and nurturing programme for children up to 11 years old, saw over 100 Year 5 pupils from ten primary schools participate in this nationally-affiliated event.
The Festival began with a group coaching session led by Alice Harvey, a renowned player from England and Loughborough Lightning Super League where pupils were introduced to netball skills: throwing, catching and footwork, in preparation for the competitive matches that followed. To support the event, twelve Year 7 pupils from Trent College helped to meet and greet the visiting schools, while eight Year 8 pupils from Trent College acted as “buddies” for each team throughout the Festival. The Trent College pupils took great pride in volunteering at the event and gained valuable experiences, such as developing leadership skills, building confidence and fostering a sense of responsibility.
Reflecting on the event, the PE Lead from Harrington Junior School praised the focus on the Bee programme, commenting, “ Following the rules of the Bee Stingers (Year 5 and 6 programme) was great…As a school it helped us to focus on what rules our children needed to practice more.”
Ongoing opportunities
At Trent College and The Elms, we have a dynamic and well-rounded approach to supporting state school partnerships that enrich their pupils’ school experience. With opportunities for engagement from Early Years through to Sixth Form, we maximise the impact and benefit for all pupils and staff involved.
Discover more about our partnership work and how we strive to make an impact in our community.