Students from Beech Academy had a day to remember as they travelled to the home of cricket to take part in the Lord’s Taverners National Table Cricket Finals.

The Mansfield school’s side were one of 12 to compete in the Nursery Pavilion at Lord’s Cricket Ground for the right to call themselves national champions.

They finished fifth and PE teacher Georgia Baker said the sport’s impact on her students was immeasurable.  

She said: “For these guys it has made a massive difference. Our PE curriculum is very inclusive as it is but with table cricket it is even more inclusive. 

"Our team is spread across different year groups; it is kids that wouldn’t otherwise speak to each other on a day-to-day basis.

“It means they can integrate more within school; it has opened up more doors and broken-down barriers.  

"It’s available for everybody. We have got kids that won’t even get changed for PE, but they will take part in table cricket.  

“It is bragging rights when we get back to school because they have been here.

“We have got local mainstream schools involved; their sports leaders have been able to lead our sessions. It was nice to see our kids mix with their kids. Sometimes there is a stigma around SEND needs and it completely broke that down.”

Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. Many young people with a disability have limited opportunities to participate in sport, but table cricket provides an incredible opportunity for them to make new friends and develop life skills such as confidence and independence, while also helping them understand the importance of leadership and teamwork in competitive environments.

Beech Academy student Sienna added: “I enjoy playing table cricket a lot because it is quite fun, and you can get very competitive with it which is what I enjoy. 

"I like that it’s a unique sport that we can play. I got into it because my school had a table cricket club, I tried it and found I really enjoyed it so carried on.”

Much of the Lord’s Taverners work in cricket for young people with disabilities is made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by the Postcode Active Trust, in addition to support from the ECB and Sport England.  

Watching on at Lord’s were an array of stars, including TV personality and comedian Matt Lucas as well as England cricketers Jack Leach, Anya Shrubsole, Jonny Gale and Alfie Pyle.

Leach said: “It’s a pleasure to come down and see everyone enjoying the game. It’s a great game, I had a little go and it’s quite difficult. I enjoyed seeing how competitive everyone is. It’s the national finals, it’s great for kids to be able to come here to the home of cricket to play.  

“It’s everyone’s dream as a kid to play at Lord’s and for them to be able to do that is very special. We want the game to be accessible to everyone. 

"The great work that Lord’s Taverners and the ECB have done to fund this and make it accessible is really special. Everyone deserves that chance, and it is great to see them making the most of it.

The Lord’s Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit www.lordstaverners.org