Year 13 student selected for England Netball Roses Academy

We are thrilled to announce that Evie L, a Year 13 student, has been selected for the England Netball Roses Academy for the 2024/25 season!

Evie is one of only 23 select athletes who will be attending regular training camps in Loughborough. Led by Roses Pathway Head Coach Sonia Mkoloma and supported by Assistant Coach Tamsin Greenway, the development programme covers everything from technical skills to media training, and supports young athletes on their journey towards being potential senior England internationals.

Evie, who moved from Dubai to join Berkhamsted in Year 2, says she has been playing netball ever since Prep school. Now a keen Wing Defence and Goal Defence, she plays for Turnford Netball Club and London Pulse in addition to the school team. ‘I love being part of a team and meeting new people’, she says, ‘and I honestly just to love to run’.

The Academy selection was a rigorous process. After being scouted at an NPL tournament, Evie was invited to a two-day camp at Loughborough University. ‘The trial process was intense’, she says, describing how many of the girls she was up against were very well-known among young netball players. Despite the pressure, Evie persevered throughout the trial and her hard work paid off in being selected for the Academy.

‘It doesn’t feel real’, she says, still in shock. ‘I thought they must have sent the email to the wrong person! The day I received the news was just the best, I was elated’.

Although Evie has achieved the dream of many young athletes, her journey has not always been an easy one. ‘I’ve been rejected from a lot of teams and had to work my way up’, she says, ‘and I’ve been really unlucky with injuries’. At the start of this year, Evie broke a plate in her ankle, making her success in the trial this September even more remarkable. She reflects that her biggest challenge has been ‘just keeping going’.

Nonetheless, her hard work and resilience is fuelled by a genuine passion for sport. ‘You’ve got to love your sport and look forward to it’, she observes. ‘Even on days when I don’t want to train, I know when I finish, I’m going to want to come back again and again’.

We aspire to support our students in Aiming High with Integrity and achieving success in all walks of life. ‘Berkhamsted has such a good netball department’, Evie says, ‘I would say they’re one of the best schools in England for netball. They’re so good with S&C training, which has helped me a lot’. Evie would like to particularly thank Head of Netball Danielle Wates for being ‘really supportive and encouraging’.

We couldn’t be prouder of Evie for Aiming High and achieving such a commendable goal. We can’t wait to see where this opportunity takes her!