VLT Basketball event

On Wednesday 3rd July, 2024, a group of our Year 7 students participated in the VLT ‘Slam Dunk’ Basketball Tournament at Ruislip High School, alongside other schools from the Vanguard Learning Trust: Field End Primary, Hermitage Primary and Ryefield Primary.

This exciting event featured a 3x3 basketball tournament, bringing together our Trust schools to learn and compete in this fast-paced, new Olympic sport. The tournament was structured to cater to Year 5 to Year 7 students with various skill levels, ensuring a fun and enjoyable experience for each participant. 

Our students not only showcased their skills in thrilling 3x3 matches, but also engaged in specialised skills and drills sessions. These sessions were led by Mr Joseph, who beyond being Head of Year 9 at RHS, is also the GB Men’s 3x3 coach. Mr Joseph guided the GB team to a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, so students were very fortunate to be able to benefit from his expertise at the tournament. 

Beyond Mr Joseph, current GB 3x3 professional basketball player Dwayne Lautier who also attended and offered his wealth of experience with the students. The RHS Year 10 GCSE students were also on hand to help and support throughout the event. Each coach and helper brought a wealth of knowledge and a unique coaching style, providing a well-rounded learning experience for the participants.

This event offered a unique opportunity for our students to develop their basketball abilities, while also fostering teamwork and sportsmanship. Students from different schools worked together throughout the day, building a sense of community to the occasion.

One student from RHS said: “The tournament was challenging and fun. We are really lucky to have Mr Joseph, who is an amazing coach! I also enjoyed meeting other students from different schools.”

We are incredibly proud of our Year 7s for their participation and enthusiasm, making the tournament a memorable experience for all involved. Overall, the basketball clinic was a resounding success, achieving its objectives of 3x3 basketball awareness, skill enhancement and fostering a positive team environment. Thank you to Field End Primary, Hermitage Primary and Ryefield Primary School for joining us at RHS for the event.