On Wednesday 20th May, 50 Key Stage 3 students and 20 members of staff proudly represented Woodlands Meed at the annual Parallel Youth Games held at The K2 in Crawley.  A true highlight of our sporting calendar, the Parallel Youth Games is the largest sporting event in the region for SEN schools, providing pupils with the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of competitive and non-competitive activities.  The event celebrates inclusion, determination and togetherness, while giving students the chance to showcase their abilities across a diverse range of inclusive sports including table cricket, street soccer, boccia, new age kurling, JOLF, dance, cricket and, making its debut at the Games this year, trampolining.  Once again, our Woodlands Meed students were a real credit to the school and it was wonderful to see so much enjoyment, encouragement and enthusiasm throughout the day.

Our table cricket team displayed excellent teamwork, determination and sportsmanship throughout the tournament, with Captain Robin leading his team brilliantly from start to finish.

In new age kurling, David and William showed impressive focus and communication from the outset, earning victory in their opening match and continuing to work superbly together throughout the competition.

Our first boccia team demonstrated strong tactical awareness and composure under pressure, securing two wins from their three matches thanks to some excellent shot execution.  Captain Aleks led his team with enthusiasm, confidence and positivity throughout.  Meanwhile, our second boccia team made an excellent impression from the very first roll.  Despite two thirds of the students competing for the first time, they showed great skill, enthusiasm and quiet confidence throughout the tournament.

Our street soccer team were determined to build upon last year’s success, when they achieved their first ever medal — and they certainly did not disappoint.  The team played some outstanding football, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and determination in every match.  Captain Tianna led by example both on and off the pitch, motivating and directing her teammates throughout the day.  The team finished top of their round robin group after winning every game, including several tense penalty shootouts.  They then progressed through the semi-finals with another dramatic penalty victory to secure a place in the final against Northese Manor.  In a closely contested final, with chances for both teams, Woodlands Meed narrowly missed out on gold, losing 1–0.  Any initial disappointment was soon replaced with immense pride as the team celebrated a fantastic silver medal achievement.

Our cricket team were eager to put into practice all the skills they had developed during coaching sessions this term and they made an excellent start by winning their opening match.  Throughout the tournament, the team continued to work hard and support one another, with several outstanding catches in the field proving to be major highlights.  Their batting and bowling also showed significant improvement and reflected the progress they have made during training.

In the pool, our swimmers performed brilliantly, pushing themselves in every event including front stroke, backstroke and relay races.  Their efforts were rewarded with numerous medals and many proud smiles from staff and supporters alike.

This year also saw the exciting introduction of trampolining to the Games.  Our four participants embraced the opportunity enthusiastically, confidently demonstrating their flexibility, coordination and sequencing skills in front of the other schools.

The event concluded with a fantastic dance performance involving students from all participating schools.  Our Woodlands Meed dancers proudly joined together with their peers to perform an energetic and entertaining routine in front of the remaining competitors and spectators, bringing the Games to a joyful and memorable close.

The 2026 Parallel Youth Games was a truly incredible experience and has, once again, proved just how powerful sport can be in creating opportunity, building confidence and celebrating every young person’s unique strengths.  For our Woodlands Meed students, the event was far more than a competition — it was a chance to perform on a bigger stage, represent their school with pride and experience the joy of being part of something truly special. 

Days like these remind us that when young people are given the encouragement, inclusion and opportunity they deserve, they can achieve remarkable things.  In a world where every child deserves the chance to shine, shouldn’t sport continue to lead the way in showing what is possible when barriers are replaced with belief?