On Wednesday 22nd May, a brilliant team of 51 students and 21 staff from Key Stage 3 proudly represented Woodlands Meed School at the annual Parallel Youth Games, held at the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley.

This major inclusive sports event — one of the biggest in the region — is the highlight of our sporting calendar, and once again, it delivered an unforgettable experience full of achievement, joy, and pride.

Our pupils competed in a diverse and inclusive range of sports including: Jolf, Boccia, Cricket, NAK, Street Soccer, Table Cricket, Swimming, Dance, and Tennis.

Medals, Milestones & Magic Moments

There were shining achievements across every activity, with students showing outstanding effort, skill, and team spirit. In Swimming, our athletes powered through the pool to secure some impressive PBs and even a few medals, demonstrating both determination and confidence in every race. On the Street Soccer pitch, years of perseverance finally paid off — our players delivered some of the best football we’ve ever seen, clinching a well-deserved bronze medal, with Albion in the Community coach Hayley declaring it “easily the best football of the tournament!”

In JOLF, our medal quest continued with pupils showing precision and patience to secure another bronze, reflecting their dedication and calmness under pressure.

Over on the cricket field, the hard work of our players — honed through coaching sessions with Dom from Sussex Cricket — was on full display. They were easily the most improved team from last year; hitting impressive boundaries and not losing a single wicket!

The tennis courts were filled with energy and enthusiasm, and it was here that we observed one of the “longest Rallies”, a true testament to our students’ resilience and focus.

Inside the Sports Hall, our Boccia, NAK, and Table Cricket players truly shone as they competed against some very strong opposition. While no medals were won in these events, the enthusiasm, determination, and sportsmanship on display were nothing short of inspiring. The team spirit and mutual encouragement among our pupils showed that the greatest victories aren’t always measured in medals — sometimes, the real prizes are confidence, inclusion, and pride in representing your school.

To round off a day full of sporting success, our dancers took to the main stage for a vibrant and collaborative performance alongside students from other schools. Their routine brought the house down and made for a perfect, joyful finale at the closing ceremony — a moment that captured the spirit of inclusion and celebration at the heart of the Games.

“Days like this are exactly why inclusive sport matters. Every student gave their all, supported each other, and represented Woodlands Meed with pride and positivity. "I couldn’t be prouder of what they achieved, and how they achieved it.” Pen Gittins, Woodlands Meed HLTA PE Specialist & Subject Lead

This year’s Parallel Youth Games reminded us all of the power of participation, perseverance, and community. A huge thank you to all staff, volunteers, coaches, and most importantly — to our incredible students.

While we are every bit as competitive as the next school, what truly sets our students apart is the incredible strength and determination they’ve built by overcoming far greater barriers than those found in any sporting arena. Their courage, resilience, and unshakable spirit prove that there are no limits to what they can achieve — on the field or beyond it.

Well done, Woodlands Meed — once again, you were truly phenomenal!

On Friday 9th May, John Stoddart, head mechanic and owner of Melo Velo, delivered two highly informative, captivating and entertaining training sessions to Key Stage 3 students.  He quickly established a strong rapport with the group and effectively covered key aspects of bicycle care and maintenance, including the M check, correct tyre inflation, and understanding basic bike mechanics.  The students were highly engaged throughout the sessions; asking insightful questions and gaining valuable knowledge to help them care for their bikes with greater confidence.  Thank you, John, we can’t wait to have more sessions in the future!

The Woodlands Meed emus smashed it on Saturday. It was a day of sunshine and smiles with the golden Emus completing the London Marathon in just over four hours and enjoying every minute of it, seeing some famous faces along the way. 

The inspirational fundraisers, led by chief emu and Deputy Head at Woodlands Meed, Tom Brown, ran the marathon along with over 50,000 on the 26.2 mile course.

And as if completing the London Marathon on Sunday wasn’t enough, Tom is running another marathon distance on Friday at Woodlands Meed in Burgess Hill so the students can join in!

The ‘Tomathon’ will see Tom run another 26.2 miles at the School and College sites in Burgess Hill so that the students can join in to take a part in the marathon. The students will run, walk or wheel a lap or more to experience taking part in the marathon distance of the ‘Tomathon’.

Tom explained ‘We did this event last year and it was such a big hit with everybody, we just had to do it again. We’ve had a whole week of ‘athons’, activities celebrating and promoting the love of getting moving. We’ve had the Aerobathon, Swimathon and Bounceathon and Friday will be the Tomathon – I can’t wait!’

‘Anything we can do to inspire the next generation of students with Special Educational Needs to know they can give anything a try regardless of disability is something we are all passionate about.’

‘Being able to try something new or activities that ordinarily might not be accessible to young people with SEN is the motivation behind running the marathon to raise money for the students as well. All the money we raise will go towards giving all the students better access to Sporting activities, which is particularly important for our students where opportunities can be more complex to access.’

You can sponsor Tom & the students here https://www.justgiving.com/page/tom-brown-6

On Monday, 31^st March, Woodlands Meed once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to inclusive sports by hosting our second annual JOLF festival—and what an incredible morning it was!  Building on the successes of last year, we took on valuable feedback, fine-tuned our approach, and delivered an even more dynamic, accessible, and exhilarating event for all.

At the heart of the festival was JOLF mastermind Neil, who orchestrated a morning brimming with highly engaging activities, skill-building, and, most importantly, inclusive fun!  SEN students from mainstream primary schools joined forces with our Woodlands Meed students, embracing the challenge of 17 thrilling JOLF games—ranging from table-top to floor-based activities; ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, had the opportunity to shine!

The turnout was nothing short of remarkable, with 128 children participating, including students from local primary schools Harlands and Turners Hill.  Every primary student from Woodlands Meed took part, and we also welcomed our Key Stage 3 students with more complex needs, ensuring that inclusivity remained at the heart of the festival.

A key highlight of this year’s festival was the outstanding contribution of our sports’ leaders.  Stepping up to the challenge, 21 students from both our school and college sites took on leadership roles—five more than last year!  Their confidence, patience, and encouragement did not go unnoticed, with visiting schools praising them as ‘brilliant,’ ‘great at running activities,’ and being ‘fantastic with our children.’  Unlike last year, there was no need to invite external leaders from mainstream secondary schools—our own students proved more than capable of leading with excellence!  Well done everyone!

In response to last year’s feedback, we also refined the setup to create an even smoother and more comfortable experience for all.  A dedicated timetable for the Performing Arts Room was introduced, allowing smaller groups to enjoy activities in a calmer, more focused setting; an addition that was met with great appreciation.

The festival was a joy to witness; students playing, learning, and celebrating achievements together.  Seeing every child fully engaged and at the heart of the event was a testament to the power of inclusive sport.

We are incredibly proud to host such a meaningful and empowering festival.  A huge thank you to Neil, our phenomenal students, dedicated staff, and visiting schools for   making this an unforgettable morning.  We are looking forward to next year and are already exploring further opportunities to provide even greater inclusive sporting events for both our students and also those SEN children currently in mainstream education.  Successful inclusion is not a one-off event; it’s an ongoing commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability or background, has equal chances to participate and thrive. By creating consistent and meaningful opportunities, we can help individuals reach their full potential and truly embody the spirit of #SportForAll!

On Wednesday, 26th February, Woodlands Meed School proudly competed in the annual table cricket competition, facing strong opposition in the group stages from Lindfield, Manor Green College, and St Piers.  After three well-fought matches, the team finished second in the group, earning a place in the prestigious final.

In the final showdown against Lindfield, Woodlands Meed put up a valiant fight, demonstrating fantastic teamwork and determination.  Despite a spirited effort, they fell just short, finishing with a score of 206 to Lindfield’s 263.

Every pupil represented the school with pride, showcasing skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Congratulations!

Star Performances:

Daniel A (Captain) – Led the team superbly with excellent communication and confidence.  His sharp focus helped save runs and take crucial wickets.

Daniel H – A standout performer throughout the day, earning the well-deserved Sportsmanship Award.

Emir – Delivered an outstanding batting and bowling display, smashing some huge sixes while keeping a big smile on his face!

Nidal – Executed fantastic batting, expertly finding the gaps to accumulate runs.

George – Grew in confidence as the day progressed, proving himself to be a great team player.

Bella – Making her competitive debut, she played with enthusiasm and followed instructions brilliantly.

Isla – Also making her debut, she displayed incredible batting skills, scoring plenty of runs while maintaining focus when it mattered most.

Rhaigen – Showed great independence and accuracy in his bowling, playing a key role in all aspects of the game.

The entire team should be extremely proud of their performances.  It was an amazing day filled with determination, skill, and, most importantly, enjoyment. Well done, Superstars!!!

In two thrilling football encounters, Woodlands Meed faced Burgess Hill Academy in a pair of matches that showcased their spirit and determination.

The first game was a challenging affair for Woodlands Meed, who were playing their first non-tournament match. The larger pitch and longer game duration tested their endurance and adaptability but despite these challenges, the team exhibited remarkable commitment, resilience, and a 'never say die' attitude. They supported each other throughout; demonstrating true teamwork.

In the second match, Woodlands Meed's confidence grew enormously. They became more assertive in tackles, their passing became more accurate, and they began creating more scoring opportunities. Their dedication and togetherness were finally rewarded when Tianna and James both scored, after some beautiful build up play, to secure a 2-1 victory.

We are so proud of the whole squad who all contributed enormously, but special mention must go to Thomas, who made three outstanding saves, and to Finn, who was named ‘Most Valuable Player’ for his tough tackling and no-nonsense defending.

This victory was a testament to the team's hard work and spirit, and we are all looking forward to further matches against the same opposition in a week's time.