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Village school to compete on national netball stage

Teenage sports stars at an independent school on Teesside are to compete on the national stage after making history with an unbeaten run.

The U14 netball team at Red House School in Norton, Stockton on Tees remains undefeated after competing against six other North East teams. It’s the first time in the school’s history that a netball squad has reached both the regional heats and national final of the England Netball National Schools Competition. The girls will now face 17 teams at the national finals next month in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

Miss Emma Howell, PE teacher at Red House School said: “I’m very proud of the girls. They have worked very hard as a team to get to this level. I wish them all the best and look forward to seeing them play in the nationals.”

The Red House team won the regional heats against Durham High School for Girls, Newcastle High School for Girls, the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, King Edward VI School in Morpeth, Polam Hall School in Darlington and Bishop Barrington School, Bishop Auckland.

Francesca Kardasz, the Red House School netball captain said: “We were quite nervous playing in the semi-finals but with the support of our teachers we made it. We’ve been taking part in extra netball sessions every week to help us prepare for the final round. We are very excited to be representing our school in this competition.”

Miss Marie Sweeney, head of PE at Red House School, said: “We really want to thank Vision for Education, in association with the Wonder Foundation, for sponsoring the sports kit. In the nationals the girls will be competing against much larger schools than us, state schools and independent, and having community support like this really rallies the team. Red House is delighted to be able to highlight the excellent work of the Wonder Foundation.”

Particularly passionate about sport, Red House is one of the few independent schools in the region to have girls’ football and cricket teams. They have also introduced rugby coaching sessions in the hopes of inspiring girls to play rugby with local clubs.

Miss Sweeney added: “At Red House, team sports are really important, for health and fitness of course, but to help all our pupils to build confidence, self-esteem, social skills and a sense of fair play.

“Everyone wants to wish the netball team all the luck in the world for the nationals. These girls have made school history.”

The national finals competition will take place on Saturday, March 17th at Stanborough School. To find out more about Red House School, visit redhouseschool.co.uk.

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