Teign School in Kingsteignton were highly commended in the category of Secondary School of the Year at this year's national Chance to Shine Awards, finishing joint runners-up.
Teign School were named as our Secondary School of 2023 earlier this year after they fully embraced the Chance to Shine Leadership Programme, which was run alongside the ECB #WeGotGame initiative, with students and staff engaged, taking part in leadership opportunities and using the programme as a stepping stone to create further opportunities for girls to play cricket.
At the Chance to Shine Awards, Teign School were described as "a shining example of embracing the Chance to Shine programme. Staff and students fully embraced the opportunity to run a girl’s leadership programme, creating and transforming a new cricketing culture in the school. Students, including those new to cricket, expressed a newfound love for the game. Teign School fully embraced the initiative, providing staff CPD and creating an after-school club."
"Never before have we had cricket as a club all year round and now we do.
We have been so fortunate to have had the amazing pathway of activities,
CPD and support from Devon Cricket."
Speaking on the recognition, Head of PE, Mrs Wylie said: "We are ridiculously proud of the progress our students have made in cricket over the last academic year. We have taken on every opportunity to help ensure our students can grow a love of the game.
"Students have participated in both indoor and outdoor games, and really thrived in the opportunity to become cricket leaders. The standard of play across Teign students has really improved but, of more importance to me, their enjoyment and passion to play has really taken off. Never before have we had cricket as a club all year round and now we do. We have been so fortunate to have had the amazing pathway of activities, CPD and support from Devon Cricket.
"The award for Secondary School of the Year in Devon that we gained last year was so remarkable and finishing runners up nationally has given us all a wonderful surprise. It is obviously so fantastic to gain recognition for the progress the school has been making and, on top of that, I am just thrilled to be able to mark our students' impressive engagement and successes."
The sessions at Teign School were run by Eloise Maxa, who was last month named Devon's Young Coach of the Year, partly as a result of her work on the Chance to Shine programme at the school.
On Eloise's contribution, Teign School said:
"It was an amazing opportunity for the students to have Eloise in to coach them during their PE lessons. They all developed their knowledge and understanding of cricket. Some students who have not had this type of opportunity before developed a real love for the game and did not want the block of cricket to end. We are extremely thankful for Eloise's sessions and the students did not want her to leave."
Devon Cricket's Women & Girls' Development Officer, Ann-Marie Presswell, who coordinates the programme, said:
"The way Teign School have embraced the whole programme has been really impressive. Eloise has clearly had a very positive impact on the students and staff that she met, which has sparked a new culture and desire to play cricket in the school. It is everything we have hoped for from the programme."
Devon Cricket are now looking for schools to be involved in the summer programme for the academic year 2023/24. If your school is interested in developing cricket in your school, then please contact Ann-Marie Presswell, who will help develop a programme for your school around this offer.
