This spring, the MSSP team were delighted to host a wide range of sporting competitions, festivals and events for pupils across our primary and secondary schools. Children in KS2 (ages 8–11), along with many KS3 and KS4 pupils, enjoyed the chance to represent their schools, try new activities and build their confidence in sport.

Our event days also provided valuable opportunities for teachers and staff to explore fresh ideas and formats to take back into their school settings. We remain committed to creating positive, inspiring experiences that support every child on their school sport and physical activity journey—now and into the future.

A huge thank you to all participating schools, staff, host venues and our fantastic sports leadership teams for helping make these events possible.

Secondary School Sporting events

MSSP continues to support the delivery of KS3 and KS4 sporting events through the Merton Secondary School Sports Association (MSSSA). This Spring, we have been busy delivering a wide range of competitions and festivals across the borough. We extend our thanks to all host schools, sports leaders, and club partners for helping make these opportunities possible for young people.

Surrey Schools Cross Country

We are delighted to report on a fantastic effort from ‘Team Merton’ at the Surrey Schools Secondary Cross Country Championships from Saturday 17^th January 2026, at Reigate Priory Park. A team of 33 athletes from across the 4 age group categories wore the purple Merton vest with pride as they completed a number of tiring laps of the Reigate course versus athletes from a number of Surrey based schools. Congratulations and thank you to all our participants, including 12 athletes who finished in the top 20 as well as an incredible 1^st place finish in the U15 Girls category. A full report and results can be viewed via the Surrey Schools Athletics Association website: http://www.ssaa.org.uk/

NBA Jnr 3v3 Basketball

Congratulations also to Harris Academy Merton Girls Yr 9/10 for being crowned 3v3 Basketball Champs for this year with an impressive display in the event hosted at St Mark’s in January and as a result, qualify for the NBA regional LYG event. Good luck to them and also to Wimbledon College Boys in the next rounds.

Primary School events

This term we have hosted 21 primary MSSP events with over 1,500 participant spots filled.

Activate Festivals 2026

We were delighted to initiate our ACTIVATE festivals this spring – Our ACTIVATE festivals are powered by the creativity and energy of Year 5/6 Sports Leadership Teams from primary schools across Merton. The young leaders run the festivals, bringing their own ideas, voices and enthusiasm to create inclusive activities that every child can enjoy. By participating, schools can showcase their leaders, celebrate pupil achievement and contribute to a shared partnership commitment to health, sport and wellbeing. We continue to encourage all Merton schools to join us in championing young people as planners, organisers and role models.

Schools Unite for a Spectacular Dance Festival

Eleven schools came together in the final week of term for the vibrant and energetic Merton Schools Dance Festival, showcasing the creativity, teamwork, and confidence of young people from across schools across the borough. The event brought over 100 pupils onto the stage, each eager to perform routines they had crafted with imagination and hard work.

One of the most inspiring elements of the festival was the variety of dance styles represented. From contemporary and hip‑hop pieces to cultural and themed performances, every routine highlighted a unique interpretation of dance and expression.

It was fantastic to see boys and girls taking part with enthusiasm and in some cases their first opportunity of representing their school in dance or sports. Many of the groups proudly presented routines they had created themselves, demonstrating not only skill but also leadership, collaboration, and creativity. Teachers played an essential role too, providing support, structure, and encouragement while still allowing pupils the freedom to explore their own ideas.

Events like this underline the importance of offering enriching, inclusive opportunities for young people. The Dance Festival celebrated more than movement; it celebrated confidence, teamwork, and the joy of taking part. The passion shown by all schools made it a memorable occasion for performers, staff, and audience alike. By offering such a wide range of activities in the borough, we hope to give schools the chance to ensure every pupil can find a platform where they confident to participate and feel able to shine.

Results | Spring 2026:

Boccia Inclusive Championships KS2 – 1st Pelham
ACTIVATE Multi-Sport Festival Yr 5/6 EAST Merton
Girls Dodgeball Festival Yr 5/6
ACTIVATE Multi-Sport Festival Yr 5/6 WEST Merton
Gymnastics Championships Yr 3/4 – 1st St Mary’s, 2nd Malmesbury/Hillcross, 3rd Garfield
Gymnastics Championships Yr 5/6 – 1st Malmesbury, 2nd Wimbledon Chase, 3rd Merton Park
ACTIVATE Multi-Skill Festival Yr 3/4 WEST Merton
Gymnastics Development Competition KS2
ACTIVATE Multi-Skill Festival Yr 3/4 EAST Merton
Football Inclusive Festival KS2
Swimming Gala Yr 5/6 EAST Merton – 1st Poplar
Swimming Gala Yr 5/6 WEST Merton – 1st Bishop Gilpin
T1 Tag Rugby Championships Yr 5/6 – 1st Bishop Gilpin, 2nd Wimbledon Park, 3rd Hollymount
Netball Borough Championships Yr 5/6 – 1st Bishop Gilpin, 2nd Pelham
Netball Development Competitions AM/PM Yr 5/6
NFL Flag Football Championships Yr 5/6 – 1st St Mary’s, 2nd Bishop Gilpin, 3rd St John Fisher
Dance Festivals 2026
‘Schools Football Week’ Festival of Football Yr 2-4
Netball Mega Festival Yr 4/5

Merton Representative School Teams

Our borough team football winners across both boys and girls events for 2025-26 were Garfield Primary. As a result, both teams had the chance to represent Merton at the Surrey Schools Pokemon Cup held at Dorking Wanderers FC on Friday 30th January 2026. The boys team came in a little nervous and had a tough start with 3–0 and 6–0 losses, but the response they showed was brilliant. They bounced back with real determination, battling to a 2–2 draw and then a 1–1 draw. Despite finishing with a loss and narrowly missing out on qualification, their attitude and fight were fantastic to see! The girls had a similar journey. They started shakily and dropped a couple of games but they still showed great strength and determination. Their overall play, teamwork, and energy were outstanding. Qualification didn’t go their way this time, but the talent and potential were clear. MSSP are incredibly proud of both teams — and their school leader mentioned that their effort, resilience, and spirit were top‑class throughout the whole day.

We are also incredibly proud of Hatfeild Primary girls’ football team, who earned the honour of representing Merton at the London Youth Games in Essex after being selected from our Yr 3/4 girls football event in October 2025. The girls showed outstanding motivation and enthusiasm in every match. Demonstrating excellent teamwork throughout the group stages, they managed to win all four of their group matches and progressed confidently to the quarter-finals. Their determination, resilience and strong team spirit were evident, with their top scorer converting in each game. Although the quarter-final did not go Hatfeild’s way, with the opposition scoring in the final moments, the girls can hold their heads high. They performed brilliantly and showed what can be achieved through hard work and collaboration. We are extremely proud of how they represented both Hatfield and the borough of Merton—an achievement to celebrate. Thank you to Grace and the staff for enabling the girls to take part and reporting on the day.

Thanks also to the following schools who have represented Merton at London Youth Games and beyond this year:

Hillcross Primary – Yr 3/4 New Age Kurling – 19.03.26 – 8th Place
Bishop Gilpin Primary – Yr 5/6 Netball – 19.03.26 – 10th Place
Hatfeild Primary- Yr 3/4 Football – 17.03.26 – 5th Place
Wimbledon College Secondary – Yr 7/8 Boys Sportshall Athletics Grand Finals – 17.03.26 – Yr 7 4th Place / Yr 8 11th Place
Ricards Lodge Secondary – U12 Girls T1 Rugby South – 2nd Place
Ursuline Secondary – Girls Futsal – 04.03.26 – 7th Place
Wimbledon College Secondary – Boys Futsal – 04.03.26 – 9th Place
Wimbledon College Secondary – Yr 7/8 Boys Sportshall Athletics Q – 06.02.26 – Yr 7 1st Place / Yr 8 2nd Place
Ursuline Secondary – Yr 7/8 Girls Sportshall Athletics Q – 06.02.26 – Yr 7 5th Place / Yr 8 6th Place
Bishop Gilpin Primary – Yr 5/6 Mixed Sportshall Athletics Q – 06.02.26 – 7th Place
Garfield Primary – Yr 5/6 Boys and Girls Football – ESFA Pokemon Cup – Surrey Round – 30.01.26

FULL RESULTS : https://www.londonyouthgames.org/school-games-results-and-standings/

Good luck to all school teams and participants progressing to represent Merton at the London Youth Games School Games events for Summer 2026.

Summer Term 1: Up-coming Primary events:

17.04.26 – Tennis Inclusive Festival KS2 – AELTC Grand Drive
22.04.26 – Tag Rugby Mega Festival Yr 3/4 – Harris Morden
24.04.26 – Golf Championships AM/PM Yr 3/4 – Harris Morden
29.04.26 – Hockey Skills Festival Yr 3/4 – Harris Morden
01.05.26 – Tennis Championships Yr 3/4 – AELTC Grand Drive
06.05.26 – ACTIVATE Multi-Skill Festival Yr 3/4 EAST – Harris Morden
20.05.26 – ACTIVATE Multi-Skill Festival Yr 3/4 WEST – AELTC Grand Drive

Summer Term 2: Up-coming Primary events:

03.06.26 – Cricket Championships Yr 5/6 – Morden CC
05.06.26 – Cricket Development Yr 5/6 – Raynes Park SG
08.06.26 – Cricket Festival Yr 3/4 – Old Rutlishians
10.06.26 – Cricket Girls Competitions Yr 5/6 – Old Rutlishians
12.06.26 – Primary Athletics Championships Yr 5/6 – RPHS Westway
17.06.26 – Rounders Development Yr 5/6 – Old Rutlishians
19.06.26 – Rounders Championships Yr 5/6 – Raynes Park SG
29.06.26 – Swimming Festival Yr 4-6 – King’s College Pool
01.07.26 – Scatterball Inclusive Festvial KS2 – Harris Morden
03.07.26 – ACTIVATE Leaders Festival – TBC
06.07.26 – Netball Girls Competition Yr 5/6 – WHS Courts Nursery Road
08.07.26 – Football League Finals Yr 5/6 – Tooting and Mitcham FC

Summer Term : Up-coming Secondary school events:

Merton Borough Track and Field Championships Yr 8-11
Friday 8th May 2026
09.30 – 15.30
Wimbledon Park Athletics Track

Track and Field Competition Yr 7
Friday 15th May 2026
10.00 – 14.30
RPHS Westway Close Fields

Saturday 13th June 2026
Surrey Schools Track and Field Championships
09:00 – 17:00
Kingsmeadow Track, Jack Goodchild Way

We wish you all a very Happy Easter and look forward to much more this Summer 2026.

Competitions Round-Up | Spring 2026