In a year that marks 50 years since girls first joined Trent College, after a 110-year history as an all boys’ school, it feels especially meaningful to celebrate the strength, confidence and ambition Trent pupils are showing. This season’s netball success is more than a run of results, it reflects how far opportunity has grown, and how proudly the students now lead, compete and inspire.

Trent netball has flourished at every level this term, from some of the youngest competitors making their mark nationally to the senior squad achieving a standout sporting milestone.  Across age groups, the same qualities have shone through; composure under pressure, fierce determination and a genuine commitment to one another.

Strength in the Foundations

The school’s younger teams have set the tone for the netball programme’s success.  The U13A squad powered into the final four of the prestigious ‘Sisters in Sport’ U13 Plate, placing them among the very best school teams in the country. Competing against leading independent schools nationwide is no small achievement, and reaching the semi-final stage reflects not just talent but courage and maturity well beyond their years.

   
U13A team                                                                                                      U14A team

Meanwhile, the U14A team delivered an outstanding performance at the East Midlands Schools Qualifiers. Growing stronger match by match, they secured an impressive fourth-place finish. Their energy, encouragement of one another and resilience throughout the day perfectly captured the spirit of Trent sport; competitive yet supportive.

"For a team so young, they are super exciting!”

The momentum was building as the senior programme carried that confidence forward.  At Oundle School, the 1st VII faced strong opposition from the East Midlands Senior Regional Division 3. In a tournament full of high-quality netball, the team combined sharp attacking play with disciplined defence to take the title.

Head of Netball, Miss Claire Drakeford, praised their performance: “The girls were outstanding and showcased some excellent netball. For a team so young, they are super exciting!”

National Netball Finalists!

The defining moment came just two weeks later, when competing in the East Midlands Regional Schools Tournament the 1st VII delivered mature, composed performances and emerged champions, earning qualification for the England Netball National Finals at the England Institute of Sport in Sheffield this March!

Every player contributed, on court and from the sidelines.  The strength in depth of the squad proved decisive, as Miss Drakeford reflected afterwards: "The first team were on fire! For a young team, they put out some incredibly mature performances. The depth we have as a first team is amazing and everyone contributed towards the success. The girls gave it everything!"

    
1st VII East Midlands Senior Regional Division 3 Tournament winners            1st VII National Netball Finalists                                          

A Programme Thriving

From national semi-finalists in Year 8, to top-four regional finishers in Year 9, to national finalists in the senior ranks, this has been a collective achievement. The pathway is working. Younger pupils are inspired, older players are leading, and the culture of encouragement is unmistakable.

For Old Tridents who remember cold winter training sessions and fiercely contested fixtures, this season stands as a proud continuation and a reminder that the values of teamwork, resilience and belief remain at the heart of Trent netball.

We look forward to cheering the 1st VII on at the National Finals in March and celebrating what has already become a remarkable year for Trent’s netball programme.

EDIT: 20 Feb 2026
Since publishing this article, the U14 girls' netball team have gone on to achieve success in making it to the Final Four of the Sisters n Sport Shield for Schools, Bowl competition.  The top two teams from the North and the top two from the South now progress to the prestigious Final Four tournament in Loughborough [March]. We are very proud of how far this group of girls has come. The team had to travel away for their last two fixtures, securing fantastic wins against Gresham's School and The Holt School. An incredible effort from the whole squad, on to the Final Four!