Year 7 pupils at Harris Academy in Clapham took part in a sports tournament led by football coach Harry Cain and former England netball international Beth Durant, aimed at championing the benefits of school sport. The event, delivered in partnership with online retailer MandM, saw pupils compete in football and netball fixtures before engaging in skills demonstrations, Q&A sessions, and discussions about the athletes’ sporting journeys.
Event highlights teamwork and confidence
The tournament was designed to highlight the positive role of sport in young people's lives, helping to build confidence and teamwork while encouraging more children to stay active. Pupils at the start of Year 7 had the opportunity to learn directly from Cain, a UEFA B coach and football creator, and Durant, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and former England netball international.
Harry Cain said: “Through sport you learn key skills such as teamwork and leadership that shape the person you become. It was great to see pupils right at the start of Year 7 throwing themselves into everything and supporting their teammates. Giving more young people the chance to have experiences like that by providing them with the correct kit and equipment is hugely important, because the lessons they learn stay with them for life.”
Rising costs of school uniform and PE kit
The event was part of MandM’s wider partnership with The Harris Federation, a group of 55 schools throughout London, aimed at raising awareness around the rising school uniform and PE kit costs and concerns around physical activity levels among young people. New Department for Education research found that required school uniform and PE kits cost an average of £442.25 for a secondary school pupil, rising to £454.31 for girls.
PE kit alone accounts for around £170 of that spend, with costs 55 per cent higher when all items must be purchased from a school or designated supplier. These financial pressures sit alongside a wider challenge around youth participation in sport, with London Sport estimating that 594,600 young Londoners, equivalent to 53 per cent, are not meeting recommended activity levels.
Broader partnership and impact
The tournament marked the latest collaboration between the Harris Federation and MandM, with the retailer having already provided more than 6,000 personalised football kits worth £250,000 to children across London. Beth Durant added: “Playing sport changed my life, but girls can’t experience those benefits if we’re losing them before they’ve had the chance to start. When girls are getting less access to facilities or don’t feel comfortable in what they’re expected to wear it isn’t surprising to that participation falls away.”
Mike Tomkins, chairman of MandM, said: “Our whole proposition is built around making great brands and the right kit more affordable, and our partnership with the Harris Federation is an extension of that.” The event underscores the ongoing efforts to address both the financial barriers and the participation gap in youth sport across London.
