The latest results out today from an annual impact survey independently conducted by leading pollsters YouGov shows that over 95% of schools surveyed said that the British tennis' schools programme had helped them deliver tennis or more tennis at schools across the country.
With over 1,500 teachers taking part, the survey shows how British tennis' schools programme, delivered by the Tennis Foundation and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), is well placed to build on its overwhelming success by continuing to offer free teacher training, resources and equipment to schools across Great Britain.
The results highlight how the programme is helping to break down traditional perceptions of the sport with 95% of schools who took part in the survey drawn from the state sector and 95% also agreeing that the programme was helping to make tennis more inclusive and accessible for their pupils.
"All of the resources are excellent and they empower staff, myself included, to improve our own confidence and technique, which can then be taught to children either through teachers' new knowledge or by the use of the excellent DVD's and the quality equipment," said Chris Knowles, teacher at Pearson Primary School, Kingston upon Hull.
The programme, which was set up in 2009 to promote grass-roots development by enabling more children across Great Britain to play tennis, has proved a hit with pupils and teachers across the country.
Results from the survey show:
• British tennis' schools programme has overwhelmingly resulted in schools delivering tennis or more tennis (95%).
• The vast majority (95%) of schools agreed that the programme was helping to make tennis more inclusive and accessible for pupils.
• Tennis in PE lessons was the activity most schools used to deliver tennis.
• On average 150 pupils per primary school and 400 pupils per secondary school have experienced tennis as a result of the programme.
• 98% of schools agreed that involvement in tennis helps improve health and wellbeing of pupils and 87% agreed that it improves pupils' confidence.
• Over three quarters of schools agreed that involvement in tennis helps increase aspiration and half agreed that tennis helps improve pupils' academic attainment.
• Out of school tennis clubs were delivered by 51% of schools, with 75% of secondary schools delivering out of school clubs.
• More than two and a half million school children have been given the chance to play tennis through the programme, which has provided free resources and tennis equipment – including more than 500,000 rackets and over a million tennis balls.
• More than 33,000 teachers have been trained to deliver the programme.
Geoff Newton, Executive Director of the Tennis Foundation, added: "We're delighted so many teachers believe our support is making a difference to the number of pupils playing tennis as well as the health of their pupils picking up a racket.
"We are committed to continuing our award-winning schools programme providing free training, resources and equipment and have plans in place over the next few years to build on this success and help even more pupils fall in love with our great sport."
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