The 2013 event kicks off in Bolton on 25th February and finishes at the home of tennis, the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, on Thursday 21st March.
Keep updated here from the Tennis Foundation Team as they blog from across the country.
Day 16 - Roehampton
Final Mileage Count: 2138
The final day of the Schools Tennis Road Show finally arrived and the team went out with a bang with over 70 teachers attending today's session at the National Tennis Centre in London.
Spending the past four weeks travelling around Great Britain engaging with more than 500 teachers, has given the team an even greater appreciation of the passionate, committed teachers and school sport professionals who ensure millions of young people have a fun, positive and inclusive tennis experience each and every year. Thank you for all that you do!
Well, that's it for 2013 – after more than two thousand miles, 500 teachers, 16 different hotels and one white van man (sorry, Phil!) the team are off for some much needed rest and to make amends with their family and friends! See you in 2014!
Day 15 - Hatfield
Mileage Count: 2112
The penultimate Road Show of 2013 saw the team in Hatfield today with Phil showing his dedication to the cause, spending the night in the van after a mix up at the hotel... Apparently, tennis rackets, cones and balls are no substitute for a duvet!
A great Road Show with over 35 delegates attending including special guest Simon Long, Chief Commercial Officer for the LTA, getting stuck in on court. Simon said: "It was great to attend the Schools Tennis Road Show in Hatfield today. It's been a fantastic day with a really good turnout from across the local counties. We learnt about Cardio Tennis as well as how to get kids in schools more involved in tennis. I think we're all going away pumped up about how we can take tennis to a wider community, both followers and players, and the role it can play in getting more pupils more active."
The team left Hatfield and headed for the 'Road to Roehampton' for the last Schools Tennis Road Show of 2013 at the National Tennis Centre tomorrow.
Day 14 - Cambridge
Mileage Count: 2072
After a short weekend recharging the batteries and a day of meetings in London yesterday the team reconvened on Monday night in Cambridge: "...a vibrant and eclectic city, steeped in history and rich in culture..." and subsequently ended up in a dodgy noodle bar on the wrong side of town!
Today saw the team enter the home straight, the last leg, the final countdown, the end of the road (and other such phrases) of the Schools Tennis Road Show 2013, with the final three of 16 Road Shows taking place this week. Today's great session in Cambridge was even filmed to ensure those of you unable to attend of the one Road Shows this year can take it all in in the comfort of your own home over the next couple of weeks!
P.S. We promised to let you know how we got on at the Education Resources Awards at the end of last week... Great news! We won the 'Best Secondary Resource non-ICT' for our Secondary Schools Tennis Teacher Resource.
Day 13 - Batley
Mileage Count: 1812
It was an energetic start to Road Show day 13 with the team partaking in an early morning swim, expect 'man-flu' Phil that is!
That energy was more than needed as over 40 delegates attended the final Road Show of week 3 at Batley Tennis and Sports Centre.
After a long week in Scotland and up north (not forgetting an early athletic start to the day) it's likely to be a late finish as the team head to Birmingham for the Education Resources Awards ceremony and dinner. The team are short-listed in two categories - for our Secondary Schools Tennis Teacher resource and Inclusive Tennis Teacher resource. We'll let you know how we get on (fingers crossed!) when we reconvene in Cambridge on Tuesday for the final three Road Shows of 2013...
Day 12 - Sunderland
Mileage Count: 1710
After a 'travel day' yesterday the team were back in Road Show mode for the 30 attendees in Sunderland– one delegate even travelled from Derby to be there, the word has obviously got out!
Tom presented his 'action-packed' (his words, not ours!) off-court session on a dance floor but thankfully resisted the temptation to attempt the infamous 'Leighton moonwalk' whilst delivering!
Away from Sunderland, and following the announcement of the 15,000th school supported through Aegon Schools Tennis earlier this month, it was another big day in the world of schools tennis today. The latest results from an annual impact survey independently conducted by leading pollsters YouGov were released which shows that over 98% of schools supported saying that the Aegon Schools Tennis programme had helped them deliver tennis or more tennis at schools across the country! Find out what else teachers surveyed said about the programme.
Day 11 - Glasgow
Mileage Count: 1454
After the leaving the snow (and Phil's hat) in Dundee the team were in a sunny but freezing Glasgow today with a great group of teachers and school sport staff that work on Scotland's Active Schools programme.
The venue was Road Show-tastic today with colleagues from the LTA delivering a regional Referee and Competition Organisers Workshop led by Keith Carder and Sarah Wooding.
Speaking of competition, did you know more than 46,000 pupils took part in schools tennis competitions last year? Our priority Mini Tennis competition sees youngsters that are new to the game putting their skills to the test in a format that uses smaller courts, nets and rackets.
Pupils in secondary schools can get involved on-court through the three competitions that make up the Aegon Team Tennis Schools series, namely: the National Championships, Year 8&10 and Senior Students – the finals of which are taking place this weekend in Bolton!
Find out more about schools tennis competitions here.
Our Guide to Schools Tennis gets everywhere!
View some more photos from the Glasgow Road Show here.
Day 10 - Dundee
Mileage Count: 1464
Come rain or shine the Schools Tennis Road Show must go on! That was the case in Dundee with the team arriving on Sunday evening to be met with freezing conditions, icy roads and a hire car covered in snow!
More than 30 local teachers, Active Schools Managers and Coordinators braved the conditions and made their way to David Lloyd Dundee to get a flavour of what’s new in schools tennis. The group got stuck in on court with some highly competitive match play even resulting in the tour’s first injury! But I'm happy to say no lasting damage for that particular attendee...
To keep warm – and presumably to amuse Tom and I – Phil Leighton finished the morning by unveiling a slightly ridiculous hat – it even makes an appearance in today’s Road Show video along with some very wintry conditions, check it out on the right-hand side!
Day 9 - Cardiff
Mileage Count: 836
After sunshine in the South West, a wet and windy Cardiff morning was brightened up by local Tennis Development Manager Simon Clarke's home-made Welsh Cakes.
Today's attendees 'bounced to the beat' during their tennis inspired workout on-court, delivered by LTA Tutor Phil Leighton.
For those of you that haven't heard about Cardio Tennis, it's a fun group activity played to up-tempo music that features drills and games to provide pupils of all abilities with a high energy workout.
Cardio Tennis is an excellent tool to engage teenagers into the game, particularly girl-only groups or disengaged pupils, and the great thing is it's suitable for everyone including those that haven't played tennis before right through to advanced players. Find out more about Cardio Tennis here.
That completes Week Two of the Schools Tennis Road Show 2013 – a day off tomorrow (well – back to the day jobs!) before the team regroup in Scotland on Sunday night to ready themselves for another week of Road Show fun!
Day 8 - Bristol
Mileage Count: 792
Whilst the Schools Tennis team may have reached the half-way point after today's Road Show in Bristol (8 down and 8 to go!) every day is day one for the teachers and school sport staff attending so after an early night the team were keen to be on the top of their game.
Tom's off court session each day focuses on the Guide to Schools Tennis – our 'one-stop shop' for anyone wanting to know about schools tennis which provides an overview of all the resource and support available to schools.
This year's Guide to Schools Tennis tells the story of schools tennis from those who know it best, the teachers, coaches and volunteers who deliver tennis in schools day-in and day-out! Eight case studies weave their way through the Guide and bring the support and resource to life as well as showing what impact tennis can have you your pupils. What to read more? Download your copy now!
Day 7 - Exeter
Mileage Count: 708
A full seven days into the Schools Tennis Road Show 2013 and the groups just keep getting better... Today's teachers and School Games Organisers were definitely in the top seven for attitude and application (copyright Phil Leighton). Below you can see some of them in action as they enjoyed the inclusive tennis part of the Road Show trying out wheelchair tennis for themselves.
In all seriousness, the group seemed to really get stuck into the practical sessions at Exeter University's fantastic Tennis Centre. Did you know as well as a comprehensive package of support for schools tennis we also have offers for Higher Education and Further Education Colleges? Well, now you do! Check out information on University Tennis here and Further Education Tennis here.
The team's arrival in sunny Bristol saw them practice what they preach – an hour's run for two members and a drink by the swimming pool for the other! Roll on Day 8 in Bristol!
Day 6 - Bournemouth
Mileage Count: 622
Day 6 of the Schools Tennis Road Show also marked a special milestone for the Aegon Schools Tennis programme as we announced our 15,000th school supported with free teacher training, resources and equipment – it also just happened to be World Tennis Day!
Since the first ever Schools Tennis Strategy was launched in 2009, more than half the schools across Great Britain have got involved and enabled more than 2.1million pupils to pick up a racket and experience tennis, many for the first time. Congratulations to Britannia Village Primary School in Newham who didn't just celebrate with a number of Olympic and Paralympic tennis players but also managed to track down #WheresTom! Top marks all round! Read more about our celebrations with Ade Adepitan, Andy Lapthorne, Jonny Marray and Elena Baltacha here.
Back in Bournemouth another group of eager and excitable teachers joined the team alongside special guests Peter Bretherton, President of the LTA and Jo Farquharson, Deputy Director of the Tennis Foundation. One attendee even went so far as to call today's presentation, "informative, useful and with excellent guidance!" #WheresTom has big shoes to fill on his return tomorrow...
Day 5 – Coventry
Mileage Count: 416
It was the turn of Davis Cup host city Coventry (yes, now you ask tickets are still available, just click here for more information) for the reunited Schools Tennis Team and what a way to finish off a great week!
Today's teachers got a glimpse of the new inclusive mini tennis red competition format which has been developed by the Tennis Foundation in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust. The format, part of the Sainsbury's School Games, takes a competition format familiar to most primary schools and just adds further adaptations and rule changes to make the game even more accessible and inclusive for all young people. The format will be launching soon with more information available here.
That's week one done and dusted with the team allowed home for a couple of nights before hitting the South West and Wales in week two!
Day 4 - Leicester
Mileage Count: 390
The search party were still out today for the team's missing member (#wheresTom) but that didn't stop another great day of the Schools Tennis Road Show tour 2013.
Lots of interest today in how tennis can act as a catalyst for learning, whether that's schools attending The Championships, Wimbledon (interested? Sign up for the Schools Tennis Membership scheme) or using the cross curricular resources available (be it: Volleys & Values, the Tennis Activity Week Pack, or lesson plans included in the Secondary Schools Tennis Teacher Resource) there's lots of support available to ensure tennis can be used to inspire and encourage pupils to achieve on and off court!
#wheresTom magically reappeared towards the end of the day, redeeming himself by cooking a delightful tapas for the team!
Day 3 – Dudley
Mileage Count: 366
A great group of school sport staff joined the Schools Tennis Team in Dudley today for another action packed day of tennis, teachers and tea.
The day got off to a shaky start with one team member missing, one discovering a new fondness for vinegar on a bacon roll and the other struggling to get to grips with PowerPoint – but once the show got underway, everything clicked into place.
With lots of interest in attending a local teacher training course and accessing the free resources and equipment available, it should be a busy and successful summer for schools tennis in the West Midlands.
But don't just take it from me! Sean Davies, PE Teacher at Bishop Challoner College in Birmingham gives his impressions, "Today we had a go at different activities including Cardio Tennis and inclusive tennis as well as looking at ways to deliver more tennis in our schools. When I go back into school I will definitely set up a Cardio Tennis club and deliver more tennis in lessons to improve the pupils abilities."
Day 2 – Wrexham
Mileage Count: 277
The team are always afforded a warm welcome in North Wales and today's visit to Wrexham Tennis Centre was no different.
More than 40 teachers from across North Wales (and a few that sneaked over the border) joined the team for a mixture of off-court and on-court activities.
Feedback from those attending suggested they really enjoyed both practical sessions, but particularly the session on inclusive tennis where they got to simulate what it's like for young people with a disability or impairment when playing tennis and how they as teachers can adapt the activities to enable all young people to excel at tennis and have fun at the same time.
You can hear from two of our attendees in the video on the right.
Day 1 – Bolton
Mileage Count: 218
It's that time of year again - the start of the Schools Tennis Road Show and even more thrilling than that... the return of the most-read blog in British tennis!
The well-prepared (!) Schools Tennis Team were set up and ready to go with plenty of time to spare, and one unnamed team member even had time for his traditional Monday-morning bacon sandwich.
This year's Road Show aims to provide an overview of all the support available to schools from the Tennis Foundation and LTA and sees the launch of two new resources to support Cardio Tennis in schools and inclusive tennis activities.
The team were delighted to welcome Cathie Sabin, Deputy President of the LTA, Tennis Foundation Trustee and former PE teacher to see the difference the programme is making on the ground... Keep your eyes peeled on Monday 4th March to see just how much progress we've made since its launch in 2009!
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