School hopes padel can make PE more accessible

A primary school has introduced padel lessons for pupils in a bid to harness the popularity of the UK's fastest growing sport and encourage more children to be active.

Moor Allerton Hall Primary School, in Leeds, took part in a week-long trial run by School Padel, learning to play a version of the game that does not require a specialist court.

More than 400 pupils took part, with teachers at the school now being trained up to help keep the sport going through PE lessons and after school clubs

Jordan Wadsworth from School Padel said he believed the sport could be a "game changer" in getting children active.

He said: "We're finding that it's engaging children who are otherwise not engaged in sport.

"You've got children who are eight years old who have never done racket sports before rallying and competing.

"It's a universal sport that can be for everyone, from any background of any age.

"That's why it's such a fantastic sport to introduce to people at a young age, and where better than at school."

Padel has rocketed in popularity, with a recent report finding that 860,000 adults and juniors played padel at least once in 2025, up from just 15,000 in 2019.

The sport is traditionally played in doubles on a dedicated court with glass walls though it has been criticised by some for being expensive to play.

In an effort to make the sport more accessible, School Padel UK has devised a version without walls.

It said the adapted version - using junior rackets, slower balls and temporary nets - was suitable for playgrounds and sports halls, and allowed children to practice striking, rallying and teamwork, and to build towards playing rallies and games.

At Moor Allerton Hall Primary, the lessons have been a hit with pupils.

Dilan, 11, said: "It's very fun as I've never played padel before and it's fun getting coached by someone who knows how to play."

Ralph, 10, said: "I like playing tennis and this is very similar, but a lot easier to play because you can let the ball hit the wall."

Beatrix, eight, added: "I'd never heard of the sport before, so I was really interested to start playing.

"I think more schools should start playing padel because it's fun for everyone, even people who don't like sports."

The school's sport lead, Pete Somerville, is among the staff who have been learning to play and said he hoped to keep interest going following the trial.

"It's a much easier sport for the children to play and therefore far more accessible to a broader range of students, and it's new," he said,

"The sessions mean that teachers can be skilled up and carry on teaching padel long after Jordan leaves us."

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