Two sports stars visited St Swithun’s School in Winchester to formally open its new indoor netball and tennis centre.
Tennis coach and broadcaster Judy Murray spent the morning coaching senior and prep pupils alongside children from Winnall Primary School.
In the afternoon, former St Swithun’s student and London Pulse and England Roses A netball star Sophie Kelly joined senior and prep netball sessions on the new courts.
The new centre includes space to host three netball courts, four tennis courts and eight pickleball courts, and it will provide year-round facilities for both the prep and senior school.
When not in use by the school, the venue will be available for hire by local and regional clubs and community groups, which includes England Netball South, London Pulse, Western Park Blades and Winchester Pickleball.
Jane Gandee, St Swithun’s Headmistress, said: “This is a key part of our ongoing commitment to provide a complete education for girls, whether in the classroom, on the sports pitch or in life.”
Judy Murray said: “I am a huge believer in the power of sport. Not just for its physical and mental health benefits, but for the life skills that it develops in young people.
“If we had a lot more adaptable facilities like this that are open to the local community outside school hours, then I’m sure tennis and netball would be in a much better place in this country.”
Sophie Kelly said: “This new centre represents opportunity for learning, for teamwork, for confidence building and for discovering what you’re capable of.”
Liz Norris, Head of Prep, added: “Our girls loved being part of the event and spending time with both Judy and Sophie. The new centre will help spark a lifelong love of sports and wellbeing in girls from the beginning of their time in the prep. We are hugely excited that our students will benefit from it.”
