18 Trent College girls have secured places on sought-after netball performance pathways, marking an outstanding achievement for our College’s growing performance sport programme.
The selections span county representation, Nottingham Forest Netball’s Performance Centres and Player Development Programmes, and Loughborough Lightning Academy. Several players are also competing in the National Performance League, representing their respective clubs.
What makes this success particularly special is where many of these journeys began. Most of the girls first picked up a netball at Trent in Year 7. Now, they are progressing into highly competitive external programmes, taking their game well beyond school.
Our U18s and U16s have also made it through the first stage of the England Netball Schools competition, which Trent U18s made Finals Day in last March.
Developing netball talent at Trent
Behind every performance pathway is a considerable amount of work. Our elite netball coaching team plays a central role in developing players, helping them improve their technical ability, tactical understanding and confidence as they progress through the school.
Trent Head of Netball, Miss Drakeford, is also the U19 National Performance League Head Coach for Nottingham Forest Netball. We are immensely proud of our well-established partnership with Nottingham Forest Netball and all the fantastic opportunities it brings to our pupils.
Miss Drakeford, Head of Netball at Trent:
“It’s incredibly special to see so many of our girls progressing into these performance pathways, particularly when you consider that many started their netball journey at Trent in Year 7. They’ve worked hard to reach this level, and the commitment of our coaching team has been a huge part of their development. We’re exceptionally proud of what they’ve achieved and excited to see where their netball takes them next.”
Performance sport alongside academics
Competing at this level requires significant commitment. Our netball players are balancing external training and fixtures with their academic studies, other sports and interests at Trent.
This is particularly relevant for pupils considering Sixth Form. For young sportswomen who want to continue developing their netball while pursuing their academic ambitions, finding the right environment matters. At Trent College, we are proud to support pupils who want to take their sport seriously while making the most of their education.
A pathway with potential
18 girls earning recognition across these programmes is a significant milestone for Trent netball. More importantly, it demonstrates what can happen when young players are encouraged to develop their ability and pursue opportunities beyond school.
We’re incredibly proud of our players and the coaching team behind them.