Delivered in partnership with the SHAPE Learning Partnership and backed by Sport England’s Movement Fund, the project ran across the autumn term in four local schools — Old Hall Junior, Brimington Junior, Grassmoor Primary, and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary — giving pupils in Years 3–6 a fun and inclusive introduction to hockey.

Boosting Participation and Confidence
The response from schools has been overwhelmingly positive. According to feedback from Term 1, 83% of schools rated the programme as “very good”, and none reported a poor experience.

Teachers highlighted the team-based match opportunities and the chance to learn new skills as the most engaging parts of the sessions. Every school agreed that the programme helped boost confidence, teamwork, and physical literacy, with 100% reporting higher pupil engagement in sport.

Importantly, the initiative has also proved to be fully inclusive, supporting pupils with special educational needs (SEND) and those who are typically less active.

Local Schools See Real Impact
Each participating school has seen unique benefits from the programme:
• Old Hall Junior School pupils have already asked for more hockey sessions after a successful first experience.
• Brimington Junior School pupils have taken the initiative to start their own lunchtime hockey club, with several showing interest in goalkeeping.
• Grassmoor Primary School pupils enjoyed their first off-site festival, and teachers are keen to continue hockey in PE.
• St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School reported that even pupils who usually shy away from sport became active participants, with the PE lead now planning to embed hockey in the curriculum.
One teacher from Brimington Junior praised the CHC team as “really adaptable and helpful, working around our school needs.”

A Growing Appetite for Hockey
More than 190 pupils took part in the end-of-term hockey festival, which teachers described as “fantastic”, “well-organised”, and “a brilliant opportunity for every child to take part.”

The club has also distributed flyers to schools, sparking growing interest from pupils keen to join local sessions. Teachers have requested equipment, training, and continued support — all signs of a strong appetite to keep hockey thriving in Chesterfield’s schools.

What’s Next for Chesterfield Hockey Club
Building on the success of the first term, CHC plans to expand the programme to more schools in 2026, strengthen school-to-club pathways, and explore transport solutions to help more pupils access training sessions.

A CHC spokesperson said:
“We’ve been thrilled by the enthusiasm from both pupils and staff. Our mission is to make hockey accessible to everyone — and this programme has shown just how much potential there is for the sport in Chesterfield.”

Get Involved
Chesterfield Hockey Club welcomes new players of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re a complete beginner, a returning player, or simply looking for a fun way to stay active, there’s a place for you.
To find out more about joining, upcoming sessions, or supporting the schools programme, visit www.chesterfieldhockeyclub.co.uk or follow on social media.

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