The Mary Erskine School, part of ESMS family of schools, has been awarded a place in the UK’s top 20 all-girls schools for cricket, in The Cricketer Schools Guide 2022.
The Mary Erskine School and ESMS Junior School has one of the largest cricket programmes for girls in Scotland, with over 160 girls playing cricket throughout the season.
It began in 2015 when PE teacher, Pippa Johnston, knocked on the door of Cricket Scotland to ask for their help to start a sector leading cricket programme for girls in the school. Coaches from Stewart’s Melville Cricket Club, headed up by former pupil David Gibson, came on board and leant their support, offering weekly coaching sessions with the girls. Together this incredible partnership helped to upskill teachers to deliver high quality sessions for our pupils.
The school has a history of inspiring and supporting female cricketing talent over the years, with current pupil Katherine Fraser and former pupil Catherine Holland, both playing cricket for their country. The ESMS cricket programme is managed by PE teacher Caroline Heron who also played for her country, prior to working at ESMS and is supported by cricket internationalist and coach Katie McGill.
Kirsty Nicholson, Head of The Mary Erskine School, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be named one of the top 20 all-girls schools for cricket in the UK. Cricket is a popular sport among the girls at ESMS and our partnership of dedicated staff and former pupils has proved to be a powerful one, giving every girl in the school the chance to learn and enjoy cricket. We are deeply proud of those pupils that have represented their country but the real success of this programme is the sheer number of girls who are now taking part in this great sport."
