Over the past eight years, the Norfolk School Games Primary Tennis Competition has become one of the most inclusive, sustainable and impactful school tennis competitions in the country. Its success is driven by the leadership and expertise of Stuart Silvester, whose experience across education, performance coaching and community tennis has shaped the competition into a model of best practice.
As Norfolk's Schools Officer and a Youth Sports Trust School Games Organiser, Stuart brings a rare combination of educational insight and elite tennis expertise. An LTA-accredited Level 5 Master Performance Coach and LTA Youth Schools Tennis Tutor, he has designed a Norfolk competition that works effectively for schools, pupils, clubs and coaches alike.
The competition is carefully structured to ensure every child has a positive introduction to tennis. Delivered across eight School Sports Partnerships, it engages over 1,000 pupils annually from primary schools across west, east and north Norfolk. Schools enter pupils into either a skills festival or a competitive pathway, ensuring participation is appropriate to confidence and ability. This inclusive design, aligned to the LTA Youth Schools Tennis Programme, has been instrumental in engaging schools new to tennis and pupils experiencing organised tennis competition for the first time.
The annual Norfolk final brings together 32 schools and 128 competitors, alongside a Year 1-2 skills festival involving an additional 8-10 pupils per school. The event creates an atmosphere that balances aspiration, excitement and enjoyment, celebrating participation as much as performance.
A defining strength of the competition is its clear pathway beyond the event itself. Wherever possible, competitions are hosted at local tennis clubs and park venues, giving many pupils their first experience of visiting a tennis facility. Stuart works closely with local club coaches, volunteers and venue staff, coordinating free summer drop-in coaching sessions for participants across the county. This ensures the competition acts as a gateway into sustained community tennis rather than a stand-alone experience.
Leadership development is embedded within the competition model. Secondary pupils, who have completed LTA Youth Tennis Leadership training, act as umpires and volunteers at county finals, gaining meaningful experience in officiating and event delivery. This creates a visible pathway from primary participation into secondary leadership, volunteering and coaching. To date, six young leaders have progressed to the LTA Level 1 Assistant Coaching qualification as a direct result of their involvement.
The competition’s longevity is underpinned by strong partnerships between schools, School Sports Partnerships, clubs and coaches, particularly impactful in rural communities where pathways are limited. It has also raised the profile of school tennis through ITV and BBC Radio Norfolk coverage, and through the involvement of inspirational role models including Wimbledon players Olivia Nicholls and Richard Bloomfield, and former Para Standing Tennis World Champion Georgia Routledge.
The Norfolk School Games Primary Tennis Competition stands out for its scale, inclusivity and sustainability, making it a highly deserving recipient of the LTA Competition of the Year Award.
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