Co-Ed Festival of Sport Launches!

Our Co-Ed Sport Festival 2025 brings together two stalwarts of the Leighton Park calendar, Cricket Week and LPGirlsCan Week, for an energetic week of exercise-related activities starting on 9^th June. Synergising these two long-standing school events and incorporating awareness of the national campaign for Men’s Health Week ties in perfectly with the celebration of our 50^th anniversary of co-education.

Zoe Macpherson, Head of Girls’ Games, and the 2025 Festival organiser, enthused, “It’s really important to bring boys and girls together, especially when we are celebrating 50 years of being co-ed, and this is being a great example today of them getting on together on the court, trying something new, and having a good time!”

The 2025 Co-Ed Festival of Sport kicked off with a friendly Rounders game versus Shiplake College. Taking full advantage of the dry summer weather, our LP Senior Girls were first to field, showing great energy and co-ordination. They kept Shiplake to just six and a half rounders, an impressive defensive effort!

Next up, it was LP’s turn to bat and what a performance it was. The team racked up a fantastic 15 rounders, showcasing skill and confidence behind the bat. Special mention goes to Zara (Lower Sixth), whose powerful hits sent the ball flying across the field multiple times. However, it was Anna (Lower Sixth) who earned the title of Player of the Match, as awarded by coach Ellie Smales, thanks to her all-round performance and last to be caught out! “Everyone who plays different sports normally, we all come together to play rounders.” laughed Anna, “It’s great, it’s fun playing with everyone that I don’t normally play with.”

Anna was one of several athletes who moved immediately from Rounders to the Lower Sixth Mixed Netball match, one of LP’s core sports but one that is less familiar to the boys. Commenting half-way through the game Anna explained, “We briefed them beforehand and they’ve been practising and they’ve been watching lots of videos and tips and tricks. I think they are putting up a good fight, although obviously we’re going to beat them in the end, aren’t we?!”. With the score coming in at 14-3 to the girls it seems Anna was right!

Becca who was Player of the Match for the girls’ team, commented, “It was good; it was a bit more physical than usual – they were quicker and a bit more aggressive but it was good”. Oscar, Player of the Match for the boys’ team, added “I think as a boys’ team we put in a valiant effort. It was tough – none of us have had any experience of playing netball. I think it shows how skills are a factor, even though we got beaten, all in all it was good experience, a good match and good fun.” Cameron agreed saying, “It’s fun; it’s harder than I thought, definitely more tiring. I learnt the rules this morning! I think it’s good to improve inclusion in sport and also have more diversity in the sports we play.”

Netball is one of the school’s three core sports, alongside hockey and football. Whilst these sports are a focus for our competitive teams to develop their skills and progress in local and regional leagues, we also offer a variety of other popular options including swimming, judo, rugby, basketball, tennis, badminton, cricket and yoga.

See the photos at https://tinyurl.com/LPSport25