Gateways School Hosts hosts Netball festivals throughout the autumn an

Gateways School Hosts hosts Netball festivals throughout the autumn and spring terms

In November 2011 Gateways School launched the first in a series of netball festivals for the autumn and spring terms.

The first festival, for under-11s, took place on Wednesday 23^rd November and involved 16 teams from 12 different schools across Yorkshire. There were participating teams from Fulneck School in Pudsey, Bradford Girls Grammar School, Froebelian School in Leeds, The Mount, Huddersfield, Richmond House in Leeds, Woodleigh in Malton, Brackenfield School in Harrogate, St Joseph’s Primary School in Wetherby, Lady Elizabeth Hastings School in Thorp Arch, Moorlands in North Leeds and Moorfield School in Ilkley.

Andy Copeland, Head of Prep P.E. at Gateways School, who has organised the festivals, said: “The purpose of the festival was for the children to play as many friendly games as possible with each team playing three matches of six minutes each way. The goals of the festivals are participation, enjoyment and improvement.” After the event children, parents and staff were invited for tea in Gateways School dining room and each school was presented with a certificate.

The second festival, an Under-10s event scheduled for 7^th December, unfortunately had to be cancelled due to bad weather but has been rescheduled for March 2012. In the spring term two further festivals will take place. On January 27^th there will be an Under-10 festival with 16 schools taking part and on 7^th March there will be another Under-11 festival for which 20 schools have already entered.