A SPORTING ACADEMY at Stourport High School and Sixth Form College has added netball to its elite training opportunities and is thriving.
After just 13 weeks, the new team is lying fourth out of eight in the West Midlands Netball League.
The school is said to be a ‘centre for sporting excellence’ and its programme is offered to post-16 students, alongside A-levels and BTECs.
There are two weekly training sessions with matches against top school and college teams across the region.
The squad is supported by two Year 10 and four Year 11 netball county players from the school.
Megan Herring, PE teacher and coach, said: “Our aim is to grow the squad and to attract external candidates to join our thriving sixth form college and take advantage of this new netball programme.”
Other sports
The introduction of netball adds to the school’s other sport programmes.
The basketball programme is in its second year with teams competing in the Tier 3 College Basketball League.
There is also the established ACE (Academy, Colleges and Education) rugby programme. The ACE programme currently has 57 players.
There are two squads run in partnership with Gloucester Rugby Academy.
They train three times a week on the school’s pitch made from the latest 4G technology.
Richard Phillips, head coach, said: “We have 10 top players with the Gloucester and Coventry Academies and Year 13 prop Harry Wright is a member of the under 18 England squad.”
Dr Lizzy Ford, interim headteacher, said she was ‘thrilled’ by the development and success of the school’s young sports players.
Story by May-Ling Turner
