The Westerham-based school are heading to the home of cricket to battle it out against eleven other schools as they look to be crowned champions of the national competition organised by the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, the Lord’s Taverners.
And thanks to the help of the People’s Postcode Lottery and Ford, who support the competition, the Kent school will be hoping to lift a trophy at Lord’s in thisWorld Cup summer.
Valence School PE Teacher, Ian Hayward said: “Playing at Lord’s is every cricketer’s dream so to be able to take part in the national final at Lord’s is a dream come true for the students of Valence, especially as this is the furthest the school has ever gone in any sport.”
“For the students representing the school at the national finals, table cricket has had a massive impact on them. It has given them the chance to improve their confidence, their communication and teamwork as well as their sportsmanship. Table cricket has provided the students with the opportunity to improve different aspects of cricket and work on tactics and game awareness in line with the game they watch on TV.”
The Lord’s Taverners table cricket competition, now in its 21st year and working with 39 county cricket boards across the UK, saw more than 450 schools take part in the 10 regional heats to qualify for the finals.
Played on a table tennis table with side panels and sliding fielders, a ball launcher, weighted plastic ball and wooden bat, table cricket enables young people with severe physical and learning disabilities to enjoy cricket and represent their school on a competitive basis.
The game not only gives opportunities for competitive play and social integrations, it also improves life-skills including self-confidence, independence and social skills. An enhanced role for the captain also allows for the development of leadership skills.
The Lord’s Taverners aim to enhance the lives of disadvantaged and disabled young people through sport and recreation. Its programmes create a wide range of opportunities to engage in sport and recreational activities in their communities.