After a six-month long rigorous process including a 100 page tender, online presentations, interviews, and a portfolio of evidence, Hartland High Reading Rockets are delighted to confirm they have retained Category 1 Basketball Academy status and remain one of 12 institutions to deliver the Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) in England. This is the highest category for basketball academies in the nation and is underpinned by the governing body, Basketball England.
In total, 26 institutions applied for Cat 1 status with the top 12 being afforded this and “DiSE” status. HHS Rockets secured a top 8 position and have therefore received another 4 year contract to deliver the above and compete in the EABL and WEABL (the elite academy basketball leagues for 16-19 year olds).
Hartland High’s new trust, Greenshaw Learning, has been instrumental in the development of the school and and the basketball pathway right from Year 7 to Year 13. This was recognised as a comprehensive aspect of HHS Rockets’ application and award of the Category 1 status.
Also included in the report from Basketball England on HHS Rockets, an institution that has had lead academy status for over a decade, was the following summary:
“The academy forms part of a comprehensive playing pathway for male and female athletes, supporting progression across multiple levels of competition. Athletes benefit from a positive and inclusive experience, underpinned by a supportive school environment and a clear commitment to elite sport. Student-athletes benefit from a highly structured delivery model that places strong emphasis on a person-first approach within the athlete development experience.”
HHS Rockets Director of Basketball Matt Johnson said,
“We are absolutely thrilled to retain our Category 1 status and to be recognised as one of the leading providers in the whole country. Myself and Ben Fisher have been working hard to build a full pathway for both club and academy so it is fantastic to be recognised for our high level basketball and academic status.”