High 5 Primary School Netball Tournament
Last week, on what had been one of the nicest days of the year so far, the High 5 Netball tournament took place at Hailsham Academy. Entering this event were three out of the eight partnership primary schools, with Hailsham Academy bringing an A and B team along to boost the total number of teams to four.
The event was played in a round‑robin format, with each team taking part in a total of three matches to determine who would be crowned the High 5 Netball champions. This structure ensured that every team had the chance to face each other, making for a fair and exciting competition throughout the afternoon.
The event got off to a great start, with Year 9 student leaders from Hailsham Academy taking all participating students through a structured warm‑up before the games began. The leaders, I have to say, were fantastic in the way they conducted themselves. All of them play netball for clubs outside of school hours as well as representing the Hailsham Academy Netball Team, and their experience really showed. It takes a lot of nerve to step up and umpire matches, particularly in a competitive environment, but the girls demonstrated impressive confidence, authority, and composure throughout the afternoon. A huge well done and thank you to the leaders involved — they were a real credit to the Academy.
Onto the games, and it was a cautious start to the tournament, with all four teams drawing their opening fixtures. Hailsham Academy A and Herstmonceux played out a competitive 2–2 draw, while White House Academy and Hailsham Academy B also finished level with a tightly‑contested 1–1 result.
However, from this point on, there was only going to be one standout team — and that was White House Academy. They found their rhythm quickly in their second match, securing a confident 2–0 victory. Their momentum continued straight into their final game, where they delivered a dominant performance to defeat Herstmonceux 5–0. This emphatic win sealed their position at the top of the table and showcased some superb teamwork, accurate shooting, and strong defensive play.
That said, Hailsham Academy B certainly pushed White House Academy all the way, finishing their tournament strongly with two excellent wins: a tight 1–0 victory followed by a hard‑fought 2–1 result. And of course, we can’t ignore the all‑important bragging rights they’ll be taking into school — especially against Hailsham Academy A, many of whom are in the same class!
In the end, it was only goal difference that separated the top two sides, with Hailsham Academy B securing a well‑deserved runners‑up position. Their determination, teamwork, and consistency across all three matches were clear to see.
To finish, I want to say a final thank you to all of the members of staff from the primary schools who once again gave up their time to bring students along to this event, giving them the opportunity to represent their school against the other partnership teams entered. Your support, encouragement, and commitment are hugely appreciated and play a vital part in making these events such a success.
Here are the final standings after the tournament:
