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Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg took part in a tennis lesson at St Catherine’s Primary School in Sheffield today, after it became the 10,000th primary school to receive free tennis equipment as part of the AEGON Schools Tennis programme.
Teachers at the school received a package of free equipment, training and resources as part of the Programme, organised by the Tennis Foundation and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
Mr Clegg, who is the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, was on hand to present St Catherine’s with their tennis equipment pack before joining in with the on-court activities.
Mr Clegg said: “It’s been great to see how a school like St Catherine’s can teach tennis, even indoors, using the AEGON Schools Tennis programme.
“Tennis is a healthy sport for all ages and all parts of the community, and it’s good to see a national governing body that is investing in school sport and that recognises that sport plays a crucial part of a child’s education.”
Since 2009, AEGON Schools Tennis has provided more than one and a half million children with the opportunity to play tennis where schools have received equipment packs free of charge – including more than 300,000 rackets and 600,000 tennis balls.
St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School Head Teacher Fiona Rigby said: “We are honoured to be the 10,000th school to participate in the AEGON Schools Tennis programme.
“We want to make teaching the basics of tennis a priority at the school and I’m sure the children will all benefit from the top-quality, free equipment we have received. The teachers have also really benefited from the training and DVD provided.
“It’s one of our aims to get more children playing tennis and this programme has enabled us to be able to offer that “
More than 15,000 teachers have received specialist AEGON Schools Tennis training through the Schools Tennis Road Shows, and the scheme is already paying dividends. 80 per cent of all schools in England now offer tennis, and 47 per cent have school club links with local tennis centres.
Geoff Newton, Executive Director of the Tennis Foundation, added: “Enabling more children to pick up a racket is a key priority for British Tennis.
“AEGON Schools Tennis provides the resources and equipment necessary for teachers to deliver tennis at all levels.”
LTA Chief Executive Roger Draper said: “The LTA is committed to making the sport of tennis accessible to people of all ages and it stands to reason that it should be an integral part of school sport.
“Our aim is to help children play tennis and learn the sport at an early age and the AEGON Schools Tennis programme is the perfect platform for youngsters to pick up a racket and have a game.”
“Working with the LTA and Tennis Foundation, we’re very proud to have helped to deliver tennis to more than one and a half million school children through the AEGON Schools Tennis programme,” added Ian Murray, Head of Sponsorship, AEGON UK.
“As Lead Partner of British Tennis, this is a great example of how AEGON is helping people of all ages and abilities play the game.”
Through AEGON Schools Tennis, the Foundation also provides support and tennis resources for secondary schools and special schools.
For more information please visit www.tennisfoundation.org.uk