TEACHER TRAINING ROLLOUT GATHERS PACE

A drive to provide cricket training to teachers across Scotland has been bearing fruit for Cricket Scotland across the first three months of 2025. 

 

The national governing body has delivered 13 sessions of CPD and almost 100 free kitbags to schools around the country since the start of the year.

 

The free CPD training, delivered by Cricket Scotland’s Regional Development Officers, allows teachers in state schools to introduce cricket to primary and secondary school children as the governing body seeks to capitalise on increased interest in the game at all levels in the wake of recent success on the international stage for the men’s and women’s national squads.

 

Tony McKenna, Cricket Scotland’s Regional Development Officer for North Scotland, has been at the forefront of rolling out the teacher training programme, racking up the miles as he’s visited schools from Aberdeen and Fraserburgh to Golspie and Wick during the last three months, working in partnership with local Active Schools coordinators.

 

“It’s really important for us to get as far afield as we can to provide CPD to teachers who may not have been offered something like this before,” said Tony. “This programme touches some of the most rural areas of the north of Scotland, as we highlight the benefits of teaching cricket and inspiring children to play it in as many schools as possible.

 

 

“Since the start of the year, we’ve handed out 65 kit bags to schools across the north with many more still to be delivered, and more than 80 teachers have taken part in the courses. By the end of this block of the delivery programme I’ll have delivered training to more than 100 teachers across the north of Scotland.

 

“These numbers are great as it highlights that there is a desire from schools to deliver cricket. Teachers see an opportunity to receive excellent resources as well as a Cricket Scotland branded kit bag for their school. All the Active Schools coordinators I’ve worked with to make this happen have also been hugely supportive.”

 

The teacher training programme feeds directly into Cricket Scotland’s new strategy, launched in August 2024, to drive up participation and increase the numbers of young people having access to cricket.

 

“We’re delighted to see the uptake from schools and teachers into this initial phase of the CPD programme,” said Nicola Wilson, Cricket Scotland’s Head of Development.

 

“Our new strategy which was launched in August 2024 aims to unite people and communities through cricket, and it’s vital that exposure to the sport starts at school level. Through this programme, teachers can be empowered to deliver active and fun sessions to a wide range of age groups, which will allow key skills to develop and hopefully inspire many of the participants to continue to learn the game.”

 

Club cricket is likely to reap major benefits of the CPD programme, with an expectation that youngsters introduced to the game at school will progress on to join local clubs and begin playing competitive cricket.

 

“Dornoch Cricket Club are doing great things for cricket in the north of Scotland”, said Tony McKenna. “We hope delivering this CPD programme locally can assist that club, and others, in growing and attracting more junior members in the future.

 

“It was great to visit towns like Wick and Golspie, where cricket hasn’t traditionally had a major presence before. Delivering teacher training in these towns will allow more cricket to be played during school hours or in an extra-curricular capacity, and hopefully that will link into the club network.”