PE teacher Dani Taylor - named Outstanding New Teacher at Cumbria’s Golden Apple Awards two years ago - has worked hard to inspire a love of netball at Solway.

Three-quarters of the girls regularly attend netball every week. Boys are welcome too.

Year nine student Jack Harrison said: “Netball was not a sport I was interested in before. I didn’t realise how many rules are involved in playing. It’s very hard but I really enjoy it. We now get the chance to play during PE lessons.”

Year nine pupil Lucy Carr, the school netball club captain, said: “I had no experience playing netball before Solway, now it is my life. We became U14 Allerdale/Copeland champions last year, beating all the other schools in the area. We went onto the county stage and just missed out on the regional rounds. We will get there next year.”

Players have been on a netball tour, and enjoy regular visits to watch international and elite netballers in action.

A junior netball club has been created for students who wish to improve their skills outside school. Solway now has two teams who play in the Carlisle Netball League.

Delighted Mrs Taylor said: “This is my biggest achievement to date. Success in netball is a bonus but supporting these young adults to engage in exercise is key.”