Pupils from Parkwood Hall had a day to remember as they travelled to the home of cricket to take part in the Lord’s Taverners National Table Cricket Finals.

The Swanley school were one of 12 sides competing in the Nursery Pavilion at Lord’s Cricket Ground for the right to call themselves national champions.

STA and PE Teacher Ellie York said her students’ confidence has come on leaps and bounds after earning a chance to show off their skills on such a big stage.

She said: “They have really enjoyed it. This is their first year doing it and they have enjoyed seeing all the different schools and getting through each round. They have had lots of fun.

“We have only started properly introducing more sport into the school this year, so this is the first year they have been going out and doing tournaments for different sports. They have only just learned how to play this year, but they are loving it and already talking about next year.

“It really builds their confidence; it really helps them work as a team together. They haven’t had much opportunity to do that before, so it is nice to see them communicating more with each other and celebrating each other.

“They were really excited to see it [Lord’s] because apart from football stadiums, they hadn’t seen anything like this before. They were excited to have a day out of school and enjoy the tournament.

“They are really excited to keep going. We said to them that even if they didn’t win, they have come so far this year, so the only way is up.”

Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table.

Many young people with a disability have limited opportunities to participate in sport, but table cricket provides an incredible opportunity for them to make new friends and develop life skills such as confidence and independence, while also helping them understand the importance of leadership and teamwork in competitive environments.

Much of the Lord’s Taverners work in cricket for young people with disabilities is made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by the Postcode Active Trust, in addition to support from the ECB and Sport England.  

Watching on at Lord’s were an array of stars, including TV personality and comedian Matt Lucas as well as England cricketers Jack Leach, Anya Shrubsole, Jonny Gale and Alfie Pyle.

Leach said: “It’s a pleasure to come down and see everyone enjoying the game. It’s a great game, I had a little go and it’s quite difficult. I enjoyed seeing how competitive everyone is. It’s the national finals, it’s great for kids to be able to come here to the home of cricket to play.

“It’s everyone’s dream as a kid to play at Lord’s and for them to be able to do that is very special. We want the game to be accessible to everyone. The great work that Lord’s Taverners and the ECB have done to fund this and make it accessible is really special. Everyone deserves that chance, and it is great to see them making the most of it.”

The Lord’s Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit www.lordstaverners.org