Kennet School is delighted to announce the installation of four new indoor cricket net bays in the Kennet Leisure Centre Sports Hall, completing a £46,000 project that marks a major step forward for the school’s flourishing cricket programme.

When discussions began in September 2024, cricket at Kennet was still in its early stages, with only three hardball match wins recorded in the previous five years. However, the 2024/25 academic year saw extraordinary growth: 44 pupils joined a new Indoor League, 40 took part in pre-season training, the school launched its first girls’ hardball team, and teams from Under 12 to Under 15 competed in the Berkshire Schools County Cups, with three reaching the Semi-Finals.

These achievements came despite limited training facilities. With outdoor nets still uneven and no indoor nets available, winter batting and bowling training was nearly impossible. This drove an ambitious fundraising effort throughout the year, culminating in almost £46,000 of support from Sport England, Greenham Trust, Stephen Peppiatt and Thatcham Town Council, with key contributions from fundraiser Iain Cottingham.

Following the installation by Huck Netting in October/November 2025, the school has already completed 20 hours of winter training, with a further 60 hours scheduled from January, supported by external coaches. The new facilities will underpin the school’s largest cricket season to date, with double the number of fixtures and entry into eight competitions.

The nets also support long-term ambitions, including the formation of a Boys’ Under 18 First XI and participation in the Toby Radford Cup, laying the foundations for the Kennet School Sixth Form Cricket Academy, set to launch in 2027.

“None of this extraordinary growth would have been possible without the support of our funders and the installation of these fantastic indoor nets. They mark not just an investment in sport, but an investment in opportunities for our young people,” said Kennet School’s Head of Cricket, Mr J Peppiatt.

Headteacher, Ms G Rigg, added: “The growth of cricket at Kennet over such a short period has been nothing short of phenomenal. Last year we were delivering winter training without suitable facilities; today, thanks to the support of our funders, we have four state-of-the-art indoor nets that will completely elevate the standard of our programme. They will allow our boys and girls to prepare properly for what promises to be the biggest cricket season in Kennet’s history.”

With these amazing indoor facilities now in place, Kennet Cricket is poised for its most exciting era yet.