A BASINGSTOKE primary school is celebrating after being declared champions in a national award scheme.

St John’s Church of England Primary School was announced as School of the Year at the Pride of Table Tennis Awards on March 26, organised by Table Tennis England.

The awards celebrate and honour the effort of volunteers, coaches, officials and organisations for their outstanding contribution to table tennis in the last year.

READ MORE: Basingstoke school is finalist in Pride of Table Tennis Awards

Representatives from St John’s, in Kingsmill Road, attended an awards ceremony in Nottingham where they were announced as the winners for the category.

Neil Tunnicliffe, deputy headteacher at St John’s, said he was delighted the school won, adding: “I feel very honoured that our efforts have been recognised at a national level.

“Table tennis has had such an impact on the children at St John’s and also across Hampshire because our pupils go on to continue playing after they have left.”

Jonathon Driscoll, Table Tennis England’s area manager, congratulated St John’s for becoming the Pride of Table Tennis School of the Year in a “very strong category”.

He added: “It’s clear table tennis has become imbedded in the culture at St John’s to provide their pupils outstanding opportunities to not only develop key skills but also improve their health and wellbeing. Congratulations once again to all involved and keep up the fantastic work.”

SEE ALSO: 'SpeedoMick' given hero's welcome as he passes through Basingstoke on 1,000 mile walk

The school was nominated by parent Alastair Williams who explained that the school’s passion for table tennis began in 2016 when it bought two outdoor table tennis tables for the children to use.

“As a school with only a 45-pupil yearly intake and a total of 315 children from Year R right up to Year 6 it’s amazing to see around 30 plus children play each day,” he said.

He said playing table tennis helps children build confidence, develop social skills and improve their health and wellbeing.

St John’s incorporates table tennis in its curriculum in PE lessons, when pupils are also given the opportunity to score and umpire matches.

Since buying the table tennis tables St John’s pupils have competed in competitions every year since, resulting in individual and team successes.

St John’s pupil Grace Pywell was declared the winner of the Hampshire Individual Table Tennis competition in February in the girl’s category, and will compete in Wolverhampton on April 22 at the national finals.

The 10-year-old said: “I started playing at lunchtime and really enjoyed it. The teachers upgrade our bats and let us play at lunchtime and we can also play before school in the morning. I just love playing.

“I felt really proud and overjoyed when I won.”

Coral Parry, a 10-year-old pupil at St John’s, said: “Table tennis was there to play at lunchtime and it looked really fun so I joined in and then started going every day. I enjoy it because it’s fun to play and it’s fun to watch other people play and pick up skills.

“I’m really proud of the school for winning the award.”