Latest News
Posted on May 12th 2024
HBAED Joins Surrey CCC’s Sixth Form Cricket Programme
Harris Dulwich Boys is pleased to announce a partnership with Surrey County Cricket Club in support of their State School Sixth Form Cricket Programme.
The programme offers young people access to high-quality cricket coaching as well as strength and conditioning training while completing their sixth-form academic studies. Our school will be joining what has now become a network of 12 partner schools across Surrey and south London as the programme looks set to continue growing in its third year.
Launched in early 2023, with five partner sites initially, the programme has found success in each of its first two years, seeing an increase of 266% in the number of applicants and a 150% rise in the number of places offered in 2024/25 across eight partner schools.
Alongside delivering cricket coaching and sixth-form academic studies, the programme also supports students in learning more about cricket as a business by offering a host of employability workshops and certified courses. Such a curriculum provides them with opportunities to acquire vocational and life skills in the areas of hospitality, coaching, media, groundskeeping, and more.
For instance, the spring of 2024 will see the existing cohort enrol in level one of the Grounds Maintenance Association course, including a work experience session with Lee Fortis, Surrey CCC’s Head of Grounds, and his team at The Kia Oval.
Many of the pupils also got the chance to complete the Support Coaching Course and gain experience as volunteer cricket coaches with the Surrey Cricket Foundation as well as help deliver cricket sessions to local primary school children in the Ben Hollioake Learning Centre at The Kia Oval.
Steve Elworthy, Chief Executive Officer at Surrey CCC, said: “The Sixth Form Cricket Programme has been offering brilliant opportunities for young people from state schools to upgrade their cricketing skills as well as learn about cricket as a business. The programme is of immense importance for everyone at Surrey and we’re delighted to see it growing from strength to strength.”
“I would like to welcome Harris Dulwich Boys to the Surrey Family and keenly look forward to working with them in delivering this programme across the county and south London.”