BETH ECUYER-DALE, HEAD OF PERFORMANCE NETBALL

Queenswood School has recently joined forces with Netball Super League (NSL) team London Mavericks to support and develop netball talent and participation in the region. The NSL is the UK’s top-tier, elite netball competition, of which the Mavericks were a founding member. This year, the league turned professional, adding an extra dimension to this ever-growing sport.

The school is honoured to collaborate with one of the most successful netball franchises. The Mavericks’ performance pathway programme – a core element of the club's commitment to developing future netball stars – bases many of its training sessions and matches at the school's exceptional double-sided indoor sports facility, Queenswood Hall.

To celebrate this exciting new affiliation, Queenswood School hosted a Partnership Launch on Wednesday 20 November 2024, in Queenswood Hall. The attendees included not only Queenswood pupils but also invitees from the wider community, including Year 4 and 5 children, parents and staff from prep and primary schools as well as local netball club representatives. The event began with a netball workshop for the invited Year 4 and 5 pupils, led by our Head of Performance Netball and current Super League player, Beth Ecuyer-Dale, alongside newly recruited London Mavericks Super League players, Emily Andrews and Chelsea Blackman.

After the workshop, the Year 4 and 5 pupils had the opportunity to take photos, collect autographs, and ask questions of Emily and Chelsea. The aspiring players inquired about topics such as the toughest teams the professionals had faced, their favourite netball memories, and other intriguing aspects of their careers.

Jo Wakeley, Director of Sport, followed with a speech highlighting Queenswood’s strong sporting heritage. She emphasised shared values between the school and the Mavericks – such as being ‘curious, accountable, hardworking, and caring’ – as well as their mutual passion and commitment to girls’ netball and sport.

The event concluded with a brilliantly contested exhibition match between Queenswood's Under-19 team and an Old Queenswoodian elite side. The U19s team emerged victorious with a seven-goal win, showcasing both the school’s current talent and the sporting prowess of our alumnae. The match served as a fitting celebration of the pupils who have played a paramount role in the rise of Queenswood's successful netball programme over the years.