Pro Tennis12-17 years

English Skills lessons are designed to improve students’ general language skills, extend their vocabulary and better their understanding of grammar, to improve accuracy and confidence when producing spoken and written English.

Aims

1. Improve students' receptive (reading and listening) and productive (speaking and writing) English skills.

2. Extend students' knowledge and range of vocabulary.

3. Deepen students' understanding of grammatical concepts in English.

4. Build students' confidence to use the English they know in speaking situations.

5. Improve students' pronunciation.

6. Train students to be effective learners.

During Enrichment sessions, students will further enrich their language skills by deepening their cultural understanding of the places they visit during excursions, using real-world materials such as leaflets, word searches, adverts and articles to develop their productive and receptive English skills pre and post excursions. 

Aims

1. Prepare students for the cultural visits during excursions. 

2. Enhance students' knowledge of cultural aspects of the UK. 

3. Familiarise students with authentic learning materials (leaflets, magazines, adverts, films, TV).

4. Increase the sense of learning for communication.

5. Develop students' self-learning skills.

6. Develop students productive (speaking, writing) and receptive (listening, reading) skills in English.

Students will master essential Tennis techniques, from powerful serves to strategic volleys, while developing advanced match strategies tailored to their unique playing styles. The course also emphasises mental resilience and fitness conditioning, ensuring players not only enhance their skills but also cultivate a winning mindset.

Strength & Conditioning Students will build explosive power, agility and endurance through tailored workouts designed to enhance on-court performance and reduce injury risk. 

Technical training Students will hone essential skills such as serving, volleying, and footwork through targeted drills and expert feedback to elevate players' overall game performance.

Tactical Training Players will be equipped with strategic insights and decision-making skills, enabling them to outsmart opponents and adapt their game plans during matches.

Match play Students will engage in competitive matches, focusing on implementing tactics and building confidence under pressure in a supportive environment.

Mental Resilience Students will discover strategies to enhance focus, manage pressure, and bounce back from setbacks, fostering a strong, competitive mindset.

Delivered by the Bede’s Director of Tennis and LTA performance coaches from Bede’s School, players will hone technique whilst training like professionals.

Francesca Byrne played for Great Britain U18’s and competed internationally, nationally and represented Sussex at every age group. She was formerly tennis coach to all levels at the Bath International Performance Centre between 2009 and 2013. Currently, she is the Director of Tennis at Bede’s and Tennis Eastbourne, as well as an LTA performance coach.

Recently, under Francesca’s leadership, Bede’s pupils have won the Tennis Sussex LTA Awards held at the Amex Stadium. The year-round Bede’s Tennis Academy run at Bede’s Senior School in Dicker provides top coaching for development players and Bede’s state-of-the-art facilities help students reach their full potential.

On Fridays, students will take part in in-house tennis competitions with external players to showcase their skills, build camaraderie and gain valuable match experience against local highly ranked tennis players. 

A full programme of organised and supervised social events is offered every evening to encourage students to make new friends and develop their social skills. By actively encouraging the mixing of nationalities, we are helping to create a harmonious international community in which students can live, study in a safe and comfortable environment and enjoy themselves.

Aims

1. Promote students' relaxation and enjoyment.

2. Explore some typically English social events, games and activities.

3. Nurture social skills in an environment of different cultural traditions.

4. Use English in natural real-life speaking situations.

5. Forge new friendships.

Examples
Bede’s Got Talent, Disco, House Competitions, Fashion Show, Formal Dinner & Dance, Karaoke, Messy Games, Music Quiz, Musical Workshop, Pool Party, Soft Ball Sports, Tennis, Tournaments.

Excursions are a mandatory part of the programme. We offer students the opportunity to visit places of cultural and historical interest, as well as the chance for sightseeing, shopping and amusement. There is one mid-week excursion that is half-day and two full-day excursions at the weekend. 

Wednesdays

Wednesday trips are a half-day afternoon/evening visit and may involve visiting a local place of interest in a nearby town or an off-site activity, such as Adventure Golf, Beach Volleyball, Castle, Country Park, Indoor Rock Climbing, Museum, Pier, Skating, Street Markets.

Saturdays

Saturday excursions are a full day trip and include a cultural, touristic or recreational visit to London or another place of interest such as British Museum, Buckingham Palace, London Dungeon, London Eye, London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Thorpe Park, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey.

Sundays

Sunday excursions are often more relaxing trips to a local seaside town, such as Brighton, Chichester, Eastbourne, Hastings or Worthing, where students can stroll along the beach, have lunch in the park or do some shopping. Sometimes students will partake in off-site activities.