Academy Sport - Tennis
Reed’s is arguably the country’s premier “tennis school” with a top-class Academy that has won the World Schools’ Championships three times in recent years as well as 43 National Championships since 2003!
There are, however, opportunities for all pupils to be involved in the sport with the option of individual lessons, team training throughout the year and the chance to play in one of the numerous school teams.
Tennis Academy
The Reed's School Tennis Academy (RSTA) produces tennis players of National or International standard, with the potential to make the transition from top-class junior to world-class senior. However, we ensure that all scholars develop as both tennis players and individuals, maintaining a competitive but sportsman-like attitude to their sport.
The RSTA was developed from the concept of the Slater Squad, formed at Reed’s in 1985 with tremendous success, producing the UK’s number one tennis player of the era, Tim Henman OBE. That heritage continues today with two of the original members of the Slater Squad, Adrian Blackman and Ben Haran, who are now Director of Tennis and Head of Performance Tennis at Reed’s respectively.
Boys are selected to the RSTA between the age of 11 and 13 once they have first passed the school’s entry exams. The assessment has demanding entry requirements, but players who succeed will be lucky enough to be joining one of the very best academies in the country.
The RSTA is a unique Academy with an excellent heritage offering an outstanding, nationally recognised Elite Performance Programme supported by the LTA. Each player has a personalised tennis programme based around their tennis needs as well as their academic timetable, along with daily coaching. They benefit from our excellent on-site Strength and Conditioning facility and full-time coaches with tailored training and testing programmes and recovery after injury programmes (key for young growing athletes), all backed up by a first-class sports science facility.
For further information please view our Academy brochure:
School Tennis
There are plenty of opportunities for pupils outside of the Academy to play tennis at Reed's. Currently, there are nine teams from U12 to U18 boys as well as a senior girls’ team who play in county, regional and national competitions. B teams are also run in certain age groups and we aim to include any pupil who wishes to play competitive team tennis. Our teams have had much success over recent years; pupils love playing in a team environment even though tennis is an individual sport.
Year Group training squads for Forms One to Four (Years 7 to 10) are run once a week for players of beginner and intermediate standard. Team standard players can join a Development Squad led by one of the Academy coaches. Following this, players of county standard or above are invited to join the Development + sessions for three high quality squads per week. Individual lessons are also available to all pupils.
Our aim is that every pupil in the school has the opportunity to play tennis in an enjoyable environment that is appropriate to their standard.
