GROW THE GAME OPEN TO ALL FORCE FOR GOOD YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR In 2025, Slade Primary School, Tonbridge was crowned Chance to Shine’s Primary School of the Year. Cricket was once virtually unknown at Slade Primary but since the introduction of the Chance to Shine (CTS) Whole Schools Programme it has united hearing, and hearing impaired students, SEND children, teachers, parents and volunteers, becoming the cornerstone of life in the school. Kent Cricket Foundation Coach, Sandra Hepple, expertly adapted her sessions to accommodate all pupils at the school including those from the attached hearing impaired unit and gave them a great experience of cricket and PE. Teachers have also attended CPD courses run by Kent Cricket Foundation to enhance their knowledge and confidence to deliver cricket themselves. Many pupils developed a love for the sport, many playing it for the first time, helping them to grow in confidence and self-belief. The school even qualified for the Dynamos Schools County Finals in the summer 2025, and one of the girls has gone on to play club cricket and has been selected for the Kent Regional Development Programme. 12 13 At the Kent Cricket Foundation we consider our work with children and young people to be a crucial part of growing and sustaining the game and inspiring the next generation. Through our work with over 200 primary schools, our growing Street Cricket programme, and the National Programmes of All Stars and Dynamos Cricket running in clubs across the county, we are committed to creating a bold and inclusive future for cricket in our communities. CASE STUDY GREENLANDS SCHOOL Situated just outside Dartford, Greenlands Primary School is relatively small, with one form per year group totalling 185 students. The current intake of pupils exceeds the national averages with around half (45.9%) receiving Free School meals and 53% from ethnically diverse backgrounds. It follows that the families and pupils are likely to have limited access to cricket. Upon engaging with the school, Community Cricket Officer, Warren Bull, identified that the teachers had limited experience of delivering PE lessons and even less experience delivering cricket. Through the Chance to Shine (CTS) schools programme and nearby Street Clubs at Dartford and Gravesend, we were able to being tackling this. Warren delivered a Whole Schools Programme including six weeks of structured PE lessons to four classes, years 1, 2, 5 and 6. In the term after Easter. After the programme, we spoke with Deputy Head Teacher and PE lead, David Taylor, to discuss the impact it has had in the school. WHAT IMPACT HAS THE PROGRAMME HAD AT THE SCHOOL ON PUPILS’ BEHAVIOUR? The CTS programme has had a noticeable positive impact on pupils’ behaviour. Due to the sessions being engaging it has helped promote focus, discipline, and teamwork. Pupils look forward to the sessions and respond really well to the routines and expectations Warren sets. We’ve found that this positive behaviour often carries over into the classroom too. HAVE PUPILS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS PE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CHANGED AT ALL? Absolutely. Since Kent Cricket began working with us, there’s been a clear uplift in pupil engagement during PE. Many children who were previously reluctant or unsure about taking part are now much more willing to get involved. Warren’s sessions have helped pupils see PE as something enjoyable and inclusive. Children are now more motivated to take part and are developing a more positive relationship with physical activity. We’ve especially noticed improvements in teamwork, communication, and resilience. DID ANY PUPILS PARTICULARLY BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAMME? One standout success has been Claudia, who has shown exceptional growth throughout the sessions. We’re especially pleased to hear she’s now attending Street Cricket outside of school — a brilliant example of how the programme is inspiring children beyond the classroom. WAS CLAUDIA A ‘SPORTY’ CHILD BEFORE THE PROGRAMME? I would say Claudia wasn’t particularly known for being sporty before the programme. While she enjoyed PE, she was relatively quiet and didn’t always stand out in sports sessions. It’s been amazing to see her confidence and ability grow through the CTS cricket sessions. HAS HER BEHAVIOUR CHANGED AT ALL? Yes — Claudia has become more self-assured, confident and engaged, both in PE and more broadly across the school day. The programme has clearly helped her find something she really connects with. It’s been great to see her confidence grow. ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? Honestly, it’s been our pleasure having KCF in. It’s something we look forward to every year. Kent Cricket and CTS has made a genuine difference here and we’re proud to be part of it. ALL STARS AND DYNAMOS CRICKET 3,098 participants, aged 5-12 years, across 64 clubs. BURSARIES AWARDED TOTALLING £5,500 275 SCHOOLS PROGRAMME IMPACT 25,865 CHILDREN REACHED 217 PROGRAMMES DELIVERED 59 TEACHERS TRAINED TO DELIVER CRICKET
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