03 Jul 2025
Oaklands College will be hosting the Herts School Games Celebration Event 2025 for the second time this Friday, welcoming over 600 children and young people from across Hertfordshire for a day of inclusive, inspiring, and development-focused sport.
The event gives pupils aged 7–16 the chance to experience the buzz and excitement of a major multi-sport celebration. Set in the grounds of Oaklands’ Smallford campus, the day will include an official opening ceremony, co-hosted by two young sporting ambassadors from St Peter’s School, St Albans, and attended by a large group of VIP guests, including local mayors, councillors, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust representatives, school leaders, and Oaklands College senior staff and sports academy heads.
Oaklands deputy principal for strategy, partnerships and business development, Claire Dolan, said: “Oaklands is known across the country for our excellence in sports coaching, and are passionate about the life-changing benefits of sport to young people. So this event is a highlight of our year and we are thrilled to host it again. It’s an event that brings together so many schools and champions the power of sport to inspire, engage, and transform lives.”
Headlining the day is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, one of Team GB’s most decorated sprinters and a triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who has also shone on TV – as a Gladiators star and a contestant on the 2024 Christmas Special of Strictly Come Dancing. Harry, known for his charisma and commitment to youth sport, will open the event and spend the day encouraging and inspiring participants.
In addition, 12 Sporting Champions—young athletes already competing at high levels in their disciplines—will be on hand throughout the event to support, engage, and mentor participants.
The day will feature nine activity zones, reflecting the core pillars of the Hertfordshire School Games: Inspire & Engage and Aspire & Develop. Events will be led by trained young leaders from local secondary schools and supported by Inclusion Champions and a youth media team capturing the excitement throughout the day.
Activities include:
- Active 60 Carousel – Year 4 pupils from non-engaged schools;
- Ultimate Frisbee – Year 5 pupils from engaged schools yet to reach finals;
- Herts a Knockout – Year 8 pupils not in regular competitive teams;
- Inclusive Cricket & Golf – For KS2 pupils with additional needs;
- Inclusive Transition – Year 6/7 pupils preparing for secondary school;
- Tennis Skills Festival & Inclusive Tennis – For non-playing and SEND pupils;
- Girls’ Football – Year 3 pupils new to team sport or club involvement.
Funded by Sport England’s National Lottery programme and delivered nationally by the Youth Sport Trust, the School Games initiative is designed to provide inclusive opportunities for every child to enjoy the benefits of sport. In Hertfordshire, the programme is coordinated by 12 School Games Organisers (SGOs), delivering events and competitions tailored to pupils’ development levels across the county.
The 2025 event supports the national School Games’ pledges to promote youth engagement, physical literacy, and tackling inequalities, with a shared goal: to place sport and physical activity at the heart of every young person’s school life.
