The Queen's School, Chester, Celebrates a Landmark Season of Sporting Achievement
The Queen's School, an independent institution in Chester, is celebrating one of its most successful sporting seasons in recent memory. Pupils have excelled across various disciplines, from securing district titles to earning Welsh international honours, all within a single academic year. This remarkable period has seen national records broken, finals competed in at Loughborough University, and a fourth consecutive regional championship claimed, highlighting the school's commitment to athletic excellence.
Netball Dominance and Consistency
In netball, the school's U15 team retained the Chester and District Championship for the fourth consecutive year, competing above their age group. They conceded just 10 goals while scoring 50 across the campaign. Additionally, this team qualified for the prestigious Sisters in Sport Cup Finals, finishing second in the country out of over 380 teams in their age group. They also secured second place in the ISA U16 National Schools Netball Finals, playing a year group up and delivering another fantastic performance.
The U12 netballers also had an impressive season, progressing to the fifth round of the highly competitive national Sisters in Sport Cup tournament and securing a top-three finish in the Cheshire Schools Netball Competition. These achievements underscore the strength and consistency developing within the squad, showcasing the depth of talent at The Queen's School.
Hockey Success with New Facilities
The opening of Queen's new state-of-the-art Astroturf pitch in October has had an immediate impact on hockey performance. Pupils Minnie Wildes and Aster McCann won the U18 indoor regional championship with their club Bowden and progressed to national finals, reflecting the professional-grade training environment now available. Participation in hockey has risen throughout the school, with several notable cup successes, including strong wins against The Grange and St Bede's. The U12 team achieved a 75 per cent win rate and secured second place in the North West Regional Competition.
Athletics Records and Championships
Athletics produced some of the season's most eye-catching results. Florence Hogan and Scarlett Jones set new AJIS records in balance beam at the AJIS Indoor Athletics event, while Amélie Oldfield and Zanna Aboaba secured top-three finishes in javelin and triple jump. The U12 teams were crowned Cheshire County indoor athletics champions, beating the top five schools in the county. Years 5 and 6 finished among the top positions across all disciplines, demonstrating widespread excellence.
Biathlon, Shooting, and Cross Country Highlights
In biathlon, Year 11 pupil Sophie Mulcaster finished third nationally at the 2026 GB Schools Biathlon Championships, earning an invitation to an assessment for the Pentathlon GB Talent Pathway. In British Shooting, the junior team finished fourth nationally and the senior team sixth, marking a strong showing on the national stage. For cross country, Sophie Mulcaster, Alice Heath, and Annabel Heath delivered outstanding performances to qualify for the ISA National Schools Cross Country Finals in Durham, with all three finishing inside the top 20 nationally and Sophie securing fifth place in her age category.
International Representation and Growth in Football
In netball, Daisy Holland Hewlett represented Wales in a decisive victory over France and was named Coaches’ Player of the Match for her shooting performance. Football has also continued to grow across the school, with a significant increase in participation at all age groups this year. Regular training sessions and inter-school fixtures have strengthened skills and confidence among players, embedding the sport firmly within the wider games programme as Queen's builds its depth for future competitive seasons.
Leadership and Future Prospects
Joanne Keville, Headmistress of The Queen's School, commented: "Our pupils demonstrate exceptional skill, dedication and teamwork across every sport they compete in. These results reflect both their hard work and the outstanding coaching and support available at Queen's. Sport plays an essential role in building confidence, resilience and a lasting passion for participation." The school combines a strong academic programme with first-class sporting provision, including experienced coaches and a track record of success at county, national, and international levels.
