St Mary’s Students Shine Across Gymnastics, Netball, Cross Country, and Dance

It has been an outstanding week for St Mary’s sport and performing arts, with students from Years 5–10 showcasing determination, skill, and resilience across netball tournaments, cross country, and dance.

On Sunday, our school hosted the South Region BSGA Floor and Vault competition, with 23 teams entering across various age categories. The girls from St Mary’s delivered outstanding performances on both floor and vault, with every gymnast taking home medals. The U16 team came in third place, missing second by just 0.7 of a mark, the U13 team finished second, and the U11 team achieved first place. The U11 team will now represent the South at the Nationals in Stoke-on-Trent in May. The competition provided excellent exposure for the school, and Georgia and I are extremely proud of all the gymnasts for their hard work and commitment to the St Mary’s gymnastics squad this year.

The Year 8 netball team excelled at the ISA London North U13 Regional Tournament in Redbridge on Wednesday 4 February, securing third place and qualifying for the National Finals in March. Competing against more than 20 schools, the team impressed with composure, resilience, and disciplined play, finishing unbeaten in the group stages.

St Mary’s continued their strong form into the knockout rounds, winning 12–0 in their first match and 8–4 in the quarter-final to reach the semi-finals. There they faced a strong Webber side, eventual tournament winners, and despite the defeat, St Mary’s demonstrated determination and teamwork. Regrouping for the final playoff, the team delivered a mature performance to secure third place overall. Mrs Webster praised the squad’s effort, highlighting excellent shooting from Poppy and Yasmeen, strong defensive play from Hana, Cleo, and Elsie, and dynamic attacking support from Gabby, Rosie, and Kate.

The U11 netball team also delivered an exceptional performance. They finished second in the group stages and, despite being narrowly beaten by Naraly in the quarter-final, the team demonstrated the best netball St Mary’s has seen in a very tough competition. Their skill, teamwork, and resilience were a real highlight of the day.

On Thursday, the Year 7 team braved brutally cold conditions at Kings Mead for their tournament, showing high effort, resilience, and impressive play despite the challenging weather.

Adding to the week’s achievements, students from Years 5–10 took part in a demanding cross country race. The Year 6 team shone, with Carolina and Atiya securing a place for the National Finals. The race tested the girls’ stamina and determination, and the school is immensely proud of all participants for their commitment and sportsmanship.

Adding to the week’s celebrations, the Year 9 students participated in the ISA Dance Final. They delivered a confident and engaging performance, making the school proud with their creativity, skill, and stage presence. The girls choreographed their performance themselves and stood out amongst the other schools.

It has been a brilliant week for St Mary’s, highlighting teamwork, resilience, and talent across multiple disciplines. Congratulations to all the students who represented the school, you have made us proud!