Competition is hotting up for Somercotes students

Investment in sport at Somercotes Academy is paying off with a renewed enthusiasm for team sports giving students the opportunity to compete against other schools.
The Somercotes Academy year seven girls' netball team are: Back row, from left - Emily Ackroyd, Clara Onyeama, Manisha Bains, Lydia Wright. Front row, from left - Kitty Crossley, Libby Jordan, Charlotte Merry and Hollie-Mae Smith.The Somercotes Academy year seven girls' netball team are: Back row, from left - Emily Ackroyd, Clara Onyeama, Manisha Bains, Lydia Wright. Front row, from left - Kitty Crossley, Libby Jordan, Charlotte Merry and Hollie-Mae Smith.
The Somercotes Academy year seven girls' netball team are: Back row, from left - Emily Ackroyd, Clara Onyeama, Manisha Bains, Lydia Wright. Front row, from left - Kitty Crossley, Libby Jordan, Charlotte Merry and Hollie-Mae Smith.

New after-school clubs are seeing regular attendances by large numbers of students, who now have a much wider range of sports to choose from.

These include football, rugby, tennis, gymnastics, dance, health related fitness, hockey, netball, rounders, badminton, basketball, athletics, cricket, softball, cheerleading, aerobics, outdoor and adventurous activities and cross-country.

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Holly Irving, Somercotes Academy curriculum leader for PE, said: “We have large numbers attending extra-curricular clubs at lunchtime and after school, and this has meant that we are now able to compete against other schools in the area.

The Somercotes Academy year nine boys' rugby team are: Back row, from left - Beaudy Persaud, Jamie Wray, Jaydon Parker, Jay Powdrill, Dylan Carmichael; Front row, from left - Jamie Atherton, Jacques Wright, Neo Steele and Marc Gregory.The Somercotes Academy year nine boys' rugby team are: Back row, from left - Beaudy Persaud, Jamie Wray, Jaydon Parker, Jay Powdrill, Dylan Carmichael; Front row, from left - Jamie Atherton, Jacques Wright, Neo Steele and Marc Gregory.
The Somercotes Academy year nine boys' rugby team are: Back row, from left - Beaudy Persaud, Jamie Wray, Jaydon Parker, Jay Powdrill, Dylan Carmichael; Front row, from left - Jamie Atherton, Jacques Wright, Neo Steele and Marc Gregory.

“The students have shown great commitment to these clubs and fixtures so far.

“We look to add more extra-curricular clubs as a result of this.”

David Hampson, chief executive of Tollbar Multi Academy Trust, of which Somercotes Academy is a member, believes sport is a very important part of a child’s education.

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He said: “We have invested and are continuing to invest in sport at Somercotes Academy.

The Somercotes Academy year nine boys' rugby team are: Back row, from left - Beaudy Persaud, Jamie Wray, Jaydon Parker, Jay Powdrill, Dylan Carmichael; Front row, from left - Jamie Atherton, Jacques Wright, Neo Steele and Marc Gregory.The Somercotes Academy year nine boys' rugby team are: Back row, from left - Beaudy Persaud, Jamie Wray, Jaydon Parker, Jay Powdrill, Dylan Carmichael; Front row, from left - Jamie Atherton, Jacques Wright, Neo Steele and Marc Gregory.
The Somercotes Academy year nine boys' rugby team are: Back row, from left - Beaudy Persaud, Jamie Wray, Jaydon Parker, Jay Powdrill, Dylan Carmichael; Front row, from left - Jamie Atherton, Jacques Wright, Neo Steele and Marc Gregory.

“New changing facilities and a new multi-gym will open in a few weeks, and there are plans for refurbishing the Sports Hall and a further changing area.

“The students are now benefitting from new PE equipment, purchased this year for many different sports, to enhance not just their PE lessons but in fixtures and extra-curricular sessions.”