Children from the Wey Valley family primary schools (Bincombe Valley, St John’s, Radipole, St Andrew’s, St Nicholas & St Laurence Primary Schools, Wyvern Special School) have all received tennis coaching from Julien Lawes (Community Coach at Weymouth Lawn Tennis Club) throughout the year in the build up to the festival which was held during Wimbledon week.
The festival was arranged by the West Dorset School Sport Partnership in association with The Wey Valley School & Sports College and the Weymouth Lawn Tennis Club.
The festival was organised and run by 38 Yr9/10 Wey Valley BTEC Sports Leaders as part of their BTEC Sport course. Prior to the festival the Sports leaders have had several lessons developing their leadership skills, including sessions with Julien Lawes. On the day they were under the guidance of the Wey Valley School Sport Co-ordinator, Tanya Howlett and Julien Lawes (Tennis Coach).
The purpose of the festival is to provide the Wey Valley Sports Leaders with an opportunity to develop their leadership skills, confidence and event organisation within a club setting. It also enabled the primary school pupils to celebrate the skills they have developed during their tennis coaching and have a chance to visit their local tennis club. The festival aims to forge links between the local schools and the Weymouth Tennis Club and encourage more youngsters to play tennis and join the club as junior members.
220 Yr4 pupils were led by the sports leaders around 6 tennis skill stations, including floor tennis, explosion relay, team cones, target tennis, tap up tennis and coach rally.
Although it was a very hot day all of the Yr4 pupils got into the Wimbledon spirit and worked extremely hard to show of their skills in style. All pupils went away with a certificate of participation and the Yr9/10 sports leaders were asked to present a sticker to a pupil they thought had worked exceptionally hard.
A big thank you goes to the Weymouth Lawn Tennis Club for providing the facilities free of charge.