Tennis Academy celebrates LTA Excellence Award following LTA Wiltshire County School of the Year award

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has recognised St Mary’s Calne for its outstanding contribution to school tennis, awarding the school a highly commended LTA Excellence Award following its nomination in the prestigious School of the Year category.

The accolade follows the Tennis Academy’s earlier success in securing the Wiltshire County School of the Year Award, further cementing the school’s reputation as one of the leading centres for school tennis in the region.

Head Anne Wakefield said, ‘Our Tennis Academy is outstanding, so it was super to hear this was endorsed by the LTA. Receiving a highly commended LTA Excellence Award after being nominated in the School of the Year category is a wonderful achievement for everyone involved.’

The annual LTA Tennis Awards celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of individuals, schools, clubs and organisations across Britain. Established in 2015, the awards honour the dedication of thousands of volunteers, coaches, officials and venues who help grow and develop tennis nationwide.

Each year, more than 2,000 public nominations are submitted and assessed through county, regional and national judging stages, recognising excellence across every level of the game. In Wiltshire, additional honours are also awarded by Wiltshire Tennis for exceptional local contributions to tennis development.

Judges praised St Mary’s Calne for its thriving and inclusive tennis programme, which delivers more than 200 individual lessons each week to over 180 pupils, representing more than half of the school community.

The Tennis Academy offers an exceptional breadth of opportunities, including individual coaching, group lessons, PE sessions, team practices and Cardio Tennis. Beyond participation on court, pupils can undertake Tennis Leaders courses, while the school has also previously hosted an LTA Level 1 coaching qualification programme.

Leadership and service are also central to the programme, with pupils given opportunities to volunteer through the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, helping them develop confidence, responsibility and coaching experience alongside their sporting achievements.

Competitive tennis continues to flourish at the school, with pupils competing in summer fixtures against other schools and taking part in prestigious competitions including the Independent Schools’ Girls’ Tennis League and the Independent Schools’ Girls’ Tennis Association.

Among the highlights of the past year was a successful mixed doubles partnership between a St Mary’s player and a pupil from another local school in the Bradfield Mixed Doubles Tournament, where the pair went on to win their first trophy.

The school’s tennis community also extends beyond pupils. Its popular PGSM Family Tennis Tournament brings parents together on court, attracting more than 100 participants this year, while the annual Academy Championships provide pupils with additional opportunities to compete against their peers during the Summer Term.

The latest recognition from the LTA reflects the passion, commitment and community spirit that continue to make tennis such a defining part of life at St Mary’s Calne.

* Featured photos are from the awards submission.