Grand Slam Moment: Tim Henman Unveils State-of-the-Art Tennis Courts at Raynes Park High School

Raynes Park High School is proud to announce the completion of its groundbreaking tennis facility renovation, marking a significant milestone in the school’s commitment to athletic excellence and community engagement. A substantial portion of the funding, £70,000, was generously donated by the Tim Henman Foundation, underscoring their commitment to supporting education and sports accessibility in the local community.

Adding to the excitement, UK Tennis Star Tim Henman will preside over this momentous occasion on May 23rd, symbolising a significant step forward for both the school and the local community.

This ambitious project, totalling an investment of over £266,000, has transformed outdated and unusable courts into cutting-edge, high-specification facilities that rival those of professional arenas. Central to this transformation is an investment of £225,000 in the courts themselves, alongside an additional £41,000 for advanced floodlighting systems.

Raynes Park High School (RPHS) places community engagement at the heart of its mission. Through a robust outreach initiative, RPHS has extended educational opportunities to over 2000 local primary school students, offering diverse subjects such as Science, Design Technology, Sport, Drama, and Music. This commitment to democratising education underscores our dedication to enriching the educational landscape of our locality.

In line with this ethos, RPHS is thrilled to announce the expansion of its tennis programme through a strategic partnership with the Tim Henman Foundation (THF). This collaboration will see RPHS offering tennis lessons led by an LTA Level 5 coach to 200 students weekly, seamlessly integrating tennis education into the curriculum. Additionally, 120 primary school pupils from the local area will benefit from expert coaching, free of charge, nurturing a passion for the sport from a young age.

The Tim Henman Foundation (THF) shares its commitment to empowering young people, regardless of background or circumstance. Since 2018, THF has played a pivotal role in driving the tennis programme at RPHS, providing professional coaching to students who may not have had access to the sport otherwise. With the addition of three high-specification courts, this partnership is poised to elevate the tennis programme to unprecedented heights, offering countless individuals the opportunity to engage in physical activity and develop essential life skills.

The high specification of the courts is evident in several key features:
Improved drainage, including new soakaways, to ensure optimal playing conditions.
Enhanced sub-base for greater stability and durability.
New perimeter fencing for increased safety and security.
Improved LED lighting for better visibility and energy efficiency.
Enhanced colour scheme for improved contrast between the court and its surroundings.
Future-proofed design to accommodate potential dome installation, ensuring year-round access to tennis facilities.

The new tennis programme will provide high-quality, specialist coaching for an additional 26,000 hours annually. This initiative will significantly increase access to tennis for children and adults in the Raynes Park area, with many free sessions, removing barriers to participation.

This investment will pave the way for a tennis-rich curriculum, fostering the development of tennis leaders, coaches, and teams and providing opportunities for regional and national competition.