Harris Academy Wimbledon has high hopes for lacrosse in South West London

Harris Academy Wimbledon is a co-ed academy school located in south-west London – which has only recently opened (2018), and moved into its new buildings in November 2020.   The school PE staff wanted to introduce lacrosse as a formal part of the PE curriculum, and hopefully create an after-school club with fixtures against other schools. 

In March 2021, they applied to TLF for a grant to fund the purchase of some start-up equipment - and we approved a grant of £1830 which provided:

  • 40 sticks

  • 60 balls

  • 4 goals (suitable for 6v6 format)

Lacrosse was introduced at the start of the 2021-22 school year and has made a positive start and been enthusiastically received by the pupils. 

By the end of November 2021: 

  • All 130 students in Year 10 have had a taster session in a PE lesson. 

  • Around 50 students have selected lacrosse as their Year 10 option for PE – and in the first term have received 8 hours of lessons to learn basic skills and match play. 

  • The school hired a new PE teacher who played lacrosse at university so have some subject specialism in the department to plan and lead on the delivery of sessions, and help up-skill other PE staff members.

  • An afterschool club (open to all year groups) has been started, and around 25 students have attended for the 1.5 hour sessions each week.

  • The lacrosse club is regularly promoted with announcements around school (in newsletter & via twitter), and is included in the daily lunchtime ‘multisport club’ where students have the chance to have a go and practice some basic lacrosse skills. 

With the chance to practice & play some matches, along with the continuing commitment from the PE staff, we hope this early progress can be maintained and built upon.

The school have already made contact with nearby Spencer Lacrosse Club to set up links between them; and also with SEWLA (South East Women’s Lacrosse Association) to support them in the lacrosse community. 

The Harris Federation has over 40 institutions across London (includes Primary, Academy, Sixth Form schools), https://www.harrisfederation.org.uk/36/our-academies# .  Hopefully Harris Wimbledon’s introduction of lacrosse to their curriculum may lead to other opportunities to grow the game at other academies.      

GrantPeter Jessup