Yorkshire has long been associated with cricket, but the sport wasn’t always a natural fit for pupils at Barnsley’s The Mill Academy.
Many children at the school face economic challenges, with 42% meeting the government’s criteria for free school meals. It’s a demographic that, according to Sport England data, are the most likely to be inactive.
“When we first came in, the children had no confidence,” says Sharon Butcher, club and community development manager for Yorkshire Cricket Board. “But because this programme impacts physical, social, and emotional wellbeing, the kids have been able to grow together.
“We’ve talked about empathy and resilience, using examples like when somebody’s got out and how each other feels, and it works really well with the school ethos. We focus on six or seven keywords and the teachers have said they’ll use the same language moving forwards.”
It’s a template for success that is being replicated across the country. In the current academic year, 75% of schools that receive the Chance to Shine programme will have a higher than average number of pupils eligible for free school meals.
It’s not just the children receiving support. As the weeks go on, the Chance to Shine coaches slowly support the teachers to deliver sessions themselves – leaving a legacy of cricket at the school, as well as full access to detailed lesson plans alongside a range of other resources.
As for the pupils, cricket’s introduction has had striking results. “You learn to just be confident and try to hit the ball,” says 10-year-old Edie. “Playing cricket has taught me to believe in myself. Sharon doesn’t tell us off if we get something wrong – she helps us instead.”
Fellow Year Six pupil Corey agrees. He says: “It’s given us more teamwork between our classmates, and it makes me feel happy and joyful. I’ve learned how to get closer to friends, and that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t hit the ball.”
Jayne Clapham, HLTA and a member of staff at The Mill Academy for 24 years, says: “Before Chance to Shine, a lot of our children didn’t even know how to hold a cricket bat. But when Sharon comes, they all want to take part. She engages everybody.
“There are lots of children with behavioural issues, but when they play cricket at lunchtime it keeps them out of trouble. And because we’ve gone deeper on cricket now, the pupils are going to be fitter, healthier, and they’ll meet more people.”
Sharon Butcher hopes the effects can be long-lasting. “A lot of the children here had never experienced cricket before,” she says. “Now, at lunchtime, you see the kids getting the wickets out and having a game, which is brilliant. What we want is cricket bats in children’s hands. We don’t want any barriers.”
