We are delighted to announce that King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) has been named one of the UK’s Top 20 all-girls schools for cricket by The Cricketer magazine.
This marks their first year of recognition, showcasing the exceptional growth of the sport within and beyond the curriculum. One notable achievement from last season was a joint third-place finish on points for our under-13 team in the ECB Indoor National Finals at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
The Cricketer’s Schools Guide is a highly respected resource for parents and cricketing enthusiasts, providing a comprehensive overview of the best cricket programmes in schools across the UK. Our inclusion in the guide is a result of our strong cricket programme. Cricket has overtaken rounders in recent years to become the major summer sport at KEHS, with more than double the number of fixtures taking place compared to three years ago. Last September, the Sports Hall was refurbished to make way for four indoor cricket net lane, enabling the continuation of training throughout the winter period.
KEHS Director of Sport Sarah Blanks said: “Thanks to the investment from the school, it is fantastic to be able to offer the fastest growing sport for women in such premium facilities. Having close links with Warwickshire County Cricket Club and other cricketing programmes has been a significant source of inspiration for our girls.”
The school set-up is inspiring more young players to take up the sport as we aim to make cricket accessible to all, regardless of factors including social, economic and cultural background and exposure to the sport at primary school level. Indeed, we welcome many girls to our school each year who have not played cricket before joining KEHS, and seeing these pupils develop a love for the game is a source of immense pride for us.
There are more girls’ and women’s clubs emerging in our area, making way for increased exposure to the professional game and pathways for the women’s game becoming more visible and accessible. We are uniquely placed at the heart of the country, with Warwickshire’s county ground only a walk away. This location means pupils have easy access to watch live high-quality cricket, as well as take part in tournaments at this prestigious venue. Warwickshire and Staffordshire female professionals have been invited into school to deliver high quality coaching masterclasses to our teams, not only to help improve their technique, but also to inspire our girls and help them see the pathways to elite sport that cricket offers. We firmly believe our role at KEHS is to provide a solid foundation and passion for the sport, to start them on their path to club and county level, and beyond.
A number of our girls represent their counties at age-group level. Recent exceptional achievements from Indira in the Upper Fifth includes selection for the Central Sparks Emerging Player Programme, touring Sri Lanka with the Warwickshire under-15 squad and having her first call-up to the Warwickshire Women’s first team.
KEHS Head of Cricket Joseph Staite said: “The exposure our pupils have had to female cricketing professionals has opened their eyes to the elite pathways available in the sport. Having the backing from the Director of Sport and the school is invaluable, as it provides us with the opportunity to access first-class equipment, enabling the delivery of higher-quality training sessions that further support our pupils’ development and aspirations both in cricket and in education. I am delighted to see this instil a sense of belief and passion for the sport, and I look forward to what the future holds.”
We are also delighted that King Edward’s School, with whom we share our 50-acre campus, has been named one of the UK’s Top 100 schools for cricket by The Cricketer magazine. Together, KEHS and KES form a powerhouse for cricket, demonstrating our shared commitment to excellence in the sport and providing exceptional opportunities for girls and boys alike to develop their skills and passion for the game.
The 2025 Schools Guide is included alongside the December issue of The Cricketer (available on the newsstand from today). The guide will also be made available digitally on thecricketer.com throughout the year.
