On Monday 8th June, a little bit of torrential rain wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of our newly selected Carisbrooke College year 9 Sports Leaders. In their very first official leadership outing, our students stepped up to host and run a brilliant SEND Cricket Festival for over 120 students.

The festival welcomed a diverse group of participants with a wide range of needs, including wheelchair users, students with severe learning difficulties, and those with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. 

All twenty sports leaders were outstanding from start to finish despite the appalling weather. They demonstrated excellent levels of ability to differentiate and adapt their cricket stations on the spot without hesitation and tailored the activities for every individual, no matter the ability or need. Our leaders ensured every single participant felt included, supported, and cheered on.

From the first whistle to the final clean-up, the team were exemplary. Instead of letting the downpour wash away the fun, they brought an infectious, upbeat energy that kept everyone smiling.

Staff from St Georges, The Studio school, Forest Edge and St. Catherines all took time to praise our leaders with compliments, noting how maturely they handled the diverse needs of the children under such challenging weather conditions and proved themselves to be absolute naturals.

Miss Dewey and the PE department could not be more proud of our year 9 students for how they presented themselves throughout today's SEND Cricket Festival. Well done to all involved.