Year 4 pupils from Holyhead Primary Academy enjoyed an exciting day at Nechells Wellbeing Centre in Birmingham, where they took part in a series of basketball coaching sessions with the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club.
The children practised dribbling, passing and shooting under the guidance of the club’s coaches. They then met one of the professional players before testing their skills in a friendly tournament against other schools across the Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust.
Both of Holyhead’s teams impressed during the competition, demonstrating focus, teamwork and determination throughout the matches. The day culminated in a special invitation to watch a professional basketball game, where the Birmingham Rockets faced the Derby Trailblazers. One pupil even had the chance to step up for a shot, which they scored to the delight of classmates and staff.
School Principal Natalie Shipley said: “It was amazing to see our children fully immerse themselves in every coaching session and the level of sportsmanship they showed during the tournament. They encouraged one another, celebrated each small success, and handled every challenge with confidence and focus. Days like this are so important because they give pupils the chance to try new skills, work as a team, and see what they can achieve when they push themselves. Seeing their excitement and pride was truly inspiring.”
The visit reflected the Academy’s wider approach to physical education. The school aims to engage all pupils in a wide variety of sports to develop not only their physical skills, such as agility, balance and coordination, but also their communication, teamwork and leadership.
Events like this give pupils the chance to build resilience, determination, strategic thinking, self-belief and self-awareness. They provide practical experiences that complement classroom learning and support growth both on and off the court.
