6th April, 2025
The National Schools Championships proved another roaring success as young players from around the country descended on the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes.
Four winners were crowned from the 32 teams participating in the finals day, while over 7500 young people competed in the Championships as a whole.
It marks a threefold increase in the number of students participating in the competition since last year, as the Championships celebrated the spirit and competition that schools’ provision of badminton has to offer.
“It was fab. We’re trying to create a feeling in a room that is positive and people can embrace it and feel like they feel positive just to be in the room,” reflected Louise Hewitt, Young People Manager at Badminton England.
“One of the school teachers said she’d been a teacher for 25 years and it was the most professional event she’d ever been to across sports.
“We gave every region a sign of colour, and then we had kids design the flags for that region, and we gave everybody a flag and a t-shirt when they arrived.
“They came on at the beginning in front of their banner, so it was a bit like the Olympic opening ceremony.
“We selected songs [for their entry] from the region of people that were born in those regions so, for example, the East song was a Tom Grennan song.”
Team East exchange high fives with their opponents at the net (Credit: Badminton England)
The Championships catered for everyone and the matches were live streamed for parents who could not attend with viewership reaching 2000. Eyes were, however, still focused on who claimed the all-important national titles.
In the girls’ KS3 competition Loughborough High School were crowned champions after defeating Nonsuch High School for Girls 4-1 across their five matches in the decider.
Pate’s Grammar School claimed third spot, while Kendrick School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls rounded off the top five.
The boys’ KS3 title was clinched by Reading School who defeated King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford 4-1 in the final.
Watford Grammar School for Boys rounded off the podium spots with Pate’s Grammar School and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys also making the top five.
It was double success for Reading School as their boys KS4 team also clinched gold, defeating Parmiter’s School in a closely fought 3-2 win.
Jimmy Bilek and Nived Neelakandan claimed the decisive third win 21-16 in their doubles match.
Wilson’s School finished in the bronze medal position while King Edward VI Five Ways School and Pate’s Grammar School.
The final gold of the Championships was claimed by Colchester County High School for Girls who defeated Dame Alice Owen’s School 3-2.
The title came down to the wire as Natasha Adkins and Harleen Nanda held on to beat Aayushi Dhelaria and Anna Starling 21-19 in a decisive final doubles match.
Tapton School finished third while King Edward VI High School for Girls and Kendrick School rounded off the top five.
Such impressive victories were witnessed by badminton royalty in the form of two-time Paralympic medallist Krysten Coombs and Badminton England President Derek Batchelor, who were on hand to present the medals.
For many the championships provides a key arena for badminton’s future talent, who hope to follow in Coombs’ footsteps, to realise their own potential.
“When you’ve got really, really high standard juniors in the room and then you’ve got other kids that don’t think they’re there, but they get close in a match, it gives them a reason to be better,” explained Hewitt.
“Some kids understand how quite good they are but you see a lot of kids watching and looking at those players who are already on the pathway thinking, ‘I like the way they play.’”
A Year 7 from Watford Grammar School for Boys steps up to umpire (Credit: Badminton England)
And while the top players had ample reason to celebrate their achievements, there was reason to celebrate across the courts.
“[Each team] plays 25 rubbers, and one team won one out of 25. The celebration when they won the one, even though they didn’t win a match, was unreal. You just think that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?” said Hewitt.
It is testament to the inclusivity of the tournament that top teams can be tested while everyone derives enjoyment from the sport.
Elsewhere, students were given the opportunity to expand their skillset as they were able to have a go at being an umpire.
One Year 7 pupil took up the mantle and presided over the KS4 matches.
“When you see the little things like that, where you’ve got a Year 7 umpiring 15 or 16-year-old boys, it warms your heart,” added Hewitt.
“They accepted it as well. There wasn’t a question of who’s this? He just sat there and did the scoring.
“It’s the romance of the day that isn’t just about that winning shot, which is equally as important.
“We’ve made it possible for those stories to happen because it’s a safe, kind, jovial space where kids can feel comfortable making mistakes on an umpire’s chair.”