Special Guests at FA Girls’ Football Day
On Friday 7 March, St Bart`s took part in the FA’s Girls’ Biggest Ever Football Session (BEFS). Held the day before International Women’s Day, the BEFS took place across schools and encouraged young girls up and down the country to play football on the same day.
Year 7 and Year 9 took part in mass participation girls’ football tournaments during their PE lessons on the day. Year 7 also had two special guests attend their session; Lee Dillon (MP for Newbury and St Bart’s alumnus) joined the school to watch the tournament and take part in a Q & A with the students. Lee said, “As a member of the APPG for Women’s Football, it was fantastic to visit my old school, St Bart’s, and see so many girls taking part in the FA’s Biggest Ever Football Session. The Lionesses’ success has inspired a new generation, and it’s brilliant to see that enthusiasm reflected in schools across our constituency. Football should be for everyone, and initiatives like this are key to breaking down barriers and ensuring girls have equal access to the sport. With Women’s EURO 2025 on the horizon, now is the perfect time to build on this momentum and give every girl the chance to play—whether for fun or with dreams of going professional.”
Also joining in was Year 10 student, Jessie Archibald, who plays for Southampton FC and is currently on the FA women’s Football England pathway. Jessie said, “I love playing football, when I play I forget everything else and I am just in the moment. It was great to take part on Friday and watch younger students also enjoying the sport, demonstrating their skills and having fun.”
We have a fantastic PE department. The team work hard to encourage students to make physical activities part of their life, both in and out of school, so that they lead happy and healthy lives. St Bart’s is part of the West Berkshire Co-curricular Provision Programme, which is focused around mass participation and the broadest possible sports offer. The Biggest Ever Football Session is central to the FA’s objective within the Reaching Higher strategy to achieve a target of 90% of schools providing girls equal opportunity to play football in curricular and extra-curricular sessions by 2028. St Bart’s is excited to be part of that!
