The Hampton Academy boys´ Year 10 Volleyball team picked up in January, right where they left off in 2010. They competed in the South London Volleyball Championships after progressing through their pool and Borough final. The Year 8 & 9 combined teams had to wait until after half term to show off their volleyball skills, and Mr Crossan´s girls´ volleyball team proved they were up to the task by taking silver in the Richmond Borough Championship.

In the very same week, Mr Mayfield took the Key-Stage 3 Trampolining teams to the Richmond Festival and brought back the boys´ Team Gold. Well done to everyone who competed in the Borough Trampolining and congratulations to the boys from years 7, 8 & 9 who lifted the trophy. Another fantastic success for Hampton Academy.

Hampton Academy entered the borough wide Year 7 and Year 8 leagues in the spring term and Ms Nuttall and Ms Horsburgh guided the girls through seven tough fixtures. Ms Davidson coached the Year 9, 10 & 11 girls´ football team in the Richmond schools´ league.

The year 7 and 8 boys Rugby League team entered the Harlequins RL schools merit league, and Hampton Academy competed in competitive school rugby fixtures for the first time. As Mr Giblin´s rugby sessions go from strength to strength, the girls´ team got in on the action by entering the Richmond Champion Schools´ Competitions at Year 7 and 9. Mr Giblin took these complete novice teams and developed them to defend fiercely, score tries, compete and win games! There will be more rugby to come in the summer term.

Hampton Academy rowers competed in the Richmond Indoor Rowing Championships´  our boys´ year 8 and year 7 basketballers entered the Borough festival and the Hampton Academy athletes continued to place 3rd in the Sports Hall Athletics fixtures at Year 7 and 8.

Aside from activities in the sports fields, Hampton Academy had lots of new sports clubs for students in the spring term. Brentford FC delivered Futsal and Boxercise classes, year 10 boys began a weightlifting club and for the first time, we offered a Karate Club for students interested in martial arts. Mrs Day also launched her Friday night Badminton club.

Elsewhere at Hampton Academy, students and staff celebrated an Olympic Learning Day to mark the 500 days countdown to London 2012. Staff and students wore sports themed uniform and took part in sports challenges. Students also raised money for comic relief by challenging staff to volleyball and badminton matches. Hampton Academy hosted a huge year 3 primary school event which saw every primary school child invited to Hampton Academy for a fun filled afternoon of sport involving over 150 students.

James Giblin, Richmond School Sports Partnership