As we move into the Summer Term, it’s the perfect time to pause and celebrate what has been an exceptional Autumn and Winter for Physical Education at Priestnall.
Every day, something special is happening on our pitches, courts and sports halls, and the breadth of opportunities available to our students is truly something to be proud of.
With clubs running every lunchtime and after school, alongside hundreds of competitive fixtures each year and a wide range of tournaments, trips and enrichment opportunities, there really is something for everyone.
Football: Success Across the School
This year has been packed with football fixtures and memorable moments.
Several teams enjoyed fantastic cup runs, with our boys U15 team reaching the Stockport Cup Finals. A standout highlight was the Year 10 boys’ dramatic victory, sealed by an unbelievable 30 yard strike late in the game.
Both the U13 and U15 girls have made it to the league finals, which will be played at the end of April. We wish them good luck for their matches!
Elsewhere, the Year 7 boys produced a moment of real drama in their league semi-final, which went all the way to sudden-death penalties. In a brilliant family moment, Ivan saved the opposition’s sixth penalty before his twin brother, Stanley, stepped up to score the winner and send the team through to the league final.
The Year 8 boys and girls will be hoping to follow suit, with their semi-finals coming up next.
A huge thank you goes to the staff and coaches who organise, coach and officiate these fixtures week in, week out – their dedication makes these experiences possible.
Netball: Growing and Competing at a High Level
Netball continues to be hugely popular at Priestnall, with after-school clubs attracting large numbers every week. Across all year groups, our teams are playing at a consistently competitive level.
This year saw the U14 team reach the quarter-finals of the National “Sisters in Sport” League – a superb achievement on the national stage. Locally, both the Year 7 and Year 8 teams finished third overall in Stockport, while the Year 9 team took an impressive second-place finish.
Basketball: Local Champions and National Contenders
Basketball has once again been a major success story. The Year 11 boys finished second in Stockport, while the U14 boys secured a strong fourth-place finish.
The Year 7 boys had a particularly exceptional year, completing a clean sweep by winning both the Stockport Championships and the Laurus Trust Varsity Championships.
Continuing the success, the Girls’ U14 team reached the English Schools National Quarter-Final.
After travelling for over three hours to Northampton, the team delivered an outstanding performance against the reigning champions, Northants School for Girls – a recognised basketball powerhouse.
Their determination and resilience against older, more experienced opposition was remarkable, and they’ll be aiming to go even further next year.
Rugby: Growing Participation and Ambition
Rugby has gone from strength to strength this year. Teams competed across all Key Stage 3 Year Groups, and a dedicated girls-only rugby session has grown steadily in popularity. The girls are now preparing for an upcoming Inter-Trust Tournament.
We are also delighted to be working with Heaton Moor RUFC, who have been supporting our younger students with expert coaching. This partnership is part of our ambition to compete at a national level in the future.
The ELITE Pathway: Developing Exceptional Talent
Our ELITE Pathway continues to thrive and has become a beacon of high-performance sport at Priestnall. We were inundated with applications in September, with 41 students from Priestnall accepted onto the trust wide programme – a figure that highlights the depth of talent within our school community.
ELITE student-athletes compete at the highest levels, including international lacrosse, basketball and dance, alongside academy footballers, regional swimmers, county cricketers and county hockey players.
Student-athletes in Years 10 and 11 completed comprehensive fitness testing earlier in the year, followed by re-testing to track progress and improvement.
The ELITE pathway also provides exceptional enrichment opportunities. Students in Years 9 and 10 visited Loughborough University to work with leading strength and conditioning coaches and university lecturers. They also benefited from sports psychology sessions and a nutrition seminar – learning how to properly fuel their performance (and even cooking their own nutritious stir-fry!).
Broadening Opportunities in Sport
In addition to traditional team sports, Priestnall offers an extensive range of alternative activities. Clubs this year have included climbing, table tennis, fitness suite sessions, cross country, trampolining, badminton, dodgeball, dance and cheerleading.
We are particularly proud of our inclusive approach. Students from the Resource Base have represented the school in Varsity football and boccia competitions against other Trust schools, supported and organised by dedicated staff.
Thank You for Your Continued Support
We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to parents, carers and colleagues for your ongoing support – whether that’s delivering training, officiating fixtures, supporting with administration or simply cheering from the sidelines. It genuinely makes a difference, and our students are always grateful.
Sport at Priestnall is about far more than results. It’s about teamwork, resilience, confidence and pride – and this year has showcased all of that and more. We can’t wait to see what the Summer Term brings!