The North School have launched an all-girls tennis academy to create more opportunities for girls in sport at a recreational and competitive level.

The programme has started with under-12 and under-13 age groups and, already, more than 50 girls have taken to the court for weekly coaching and matchplay sessions under the tutelage of three members of coaching staff, which includes two female student-coaches.

The North have two girls’ teams competing in the Ashford and Shepway District Schools League and recently hosted the Ashford and Shepway Secondary Schools Tennis Fortnight.

They also held The North School Tennis Championships as a fundraising event with the aim of making the programme an all-year-round staple of school life, surpassing expectations by collecting £1,518.

Andrew Sunderland, head of girls’ tennis, said: “The clear goal is to have a lasting impact on the drive to create a more equal sporting landscape and it has been amazing to see the number of girls that we have already been able to reach.

“We were so thankful for everyone’s generous support at the fundraiser - it will allow us to purchase equipment that will enable us to train throughout the winter months and that will have a huge impact on the students involved.

“We will be adding a third age group from September and we have big plans for further expansion.”