Street students lead sports drive for Wookey pupils

By Laura Linham 26th Mar 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 26th Mar 2026

Millfield students are leading a weekly sports outreach scheme for children from Wookey Primary School, giving pupils from Years 3 to 6 the chance to try new activities at the Street school's facilities.

The programme is run by Millfield sports captains and alternates between boys and girls from Wookey Primary, so all eligible pupils get a turn. Sessions are held at Millfield each week and include rugby, tennis, dance and fencing.

The aim is simple but important: make sport fun early, build confidence and stop children drifting away from physical activity before they reach their teens.

Captain of School Evie Colyer said she started the project after seeing concern over dropout rates in youth sport during the primary years.

She said: "The percentage is too high, and I believe giving children opportunities to play sport and making it fun is fundamental to their education. It is massively rewarding seeing the children's smiles when they arrive at Millfield, and I hope that projects like this can happen more often.

"The percentage of drop out needs to change, and I hope this project leads the way at least within the local schools."

The initiative was first designed to focus on girls, reflecting wider concern over female participation in sport as children get older. Millfield said research from Women in Sport, Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust shows large numbers of girls who see themselves as sporty in primary school later disengage from sport in adolescence.

The scheme has since been expanded to include boys as well, with organisers saying that will widen its impact across the local school community around Street and Wells.

Children taking part say the sessions have opened the door to sports they would not usually get to try. One pupil said: "It has made me do lots more sport than just rugby and football," while another said: "It has made me love sports even more and now I feel much more confident in myself."

Others picked out the chance to try something different, with one child saying: "It was fun and I loved the fencing," and another adding: "The fun and fitness we have had has been amazing with lots of nice games to play."

Millfield says the project is also about positive role models, with children being coached by both male and female student leaders in a supportive setting. That matters locally, not just for confidence, but for showing younger pupils that sport can be varied, welcoming and enjoyable.

The scheme lands at a time when sport, health and opportunities for young people remain firmly on the agenda across the area, with recent stories including Street and Glastonbury set for GP boost with new rooms and Wells Carnival seeks sponsors from local businesses.

Wookey Primary staff member Mr James Anderton said the impact had been clear, including among children who do not usually choose PE or sport.

He said: "The Millfield project has had a huge impact on our children with all children engaging, taking part, and having fun, even those that often opt out of PE or sport.

"For the children to see older students clearly loving sport and wanting to share that passion it has a huge benefit, especially with the girls who often have a higher dropout rate when older.

"Visiting the campus and seeing the variety of sports being played, the facilities, trophies, posters etc. raises the children's awareness and opens their eyes to the possibilities. The experience is thoroughly enjoyable for all with huge levels of excitement every session and getting to try sports they may not have even heard of is awesome. Thank you, Evie and all the Millfield team."