Brentwood School Named Among UK’s Top Cricketing Schools
Brentwood School has once again earned a prestigious place in The Cricketer magazine’s Schools Guide 2025, cementing its reputation as one of the UK’s premier cricketing schools. The school is recognised in both the Senior and Prep/Junior categories, following a rigorous selection process that saw hundreds of schools vying for a coveted spot.
The 2025 edition marks the 10th anniversary of The Cricketer’s Schools Guide, which celebrates excellence in cricket across the top 100 Senior, top 50 Prep/Junior, top 20 all-girls’, and, new for this year, top 25 state schools. Schools were assessed on a comprehensive set of criteria, including their commitment to cricket in the curriculum, quality of facilities, fixture schedules, and coaching standards.
Neil Gamester, Director of Sport (3-18), said, “We are delighted to once again feature in The Cricketer’s Schools Guide, a testament to the emphasis we place on cricket throughout the school. Every student, across all year groups, who chooses cricket as their Games activity, benefits from outstanding coaching, thanks to the dedication of our staff during both the winter nets programme and the cricket season. It’s heartening to see so many boys and girls thriving in competitive fixtures, and this recognition truly reflects the collective efforts of our students and staff.”
Brentwood’s long-standing relationship with Essex County Cricket Club further underscores its cricketing pedigree. The school counts former Essex batsman Brian Hardie, Ashes hero Geraint Jones, and current cricket professional Jaik Mickleburgh among its notable staffing alumni.
The Cricketer is the sport’s oldest magazine and has retained its position as the world’s most respected and best-selling cricket magazine. Magazine editor Huw Turbervill said: “Here at The Cricketer, we’ve covered the schools’ game since our inception in 1921, as part of our commitment to follow cricket at all levels. We’re proud of this coverage, and the 10th anniversary of this guide recognises the fantastic cricket programmes that exist in school curricula up and down the country. One of the most phenomenal things about the last decade is seeing cricket usurp rounders as the sport for girls. Rejoice!”
The Cricketer researches and produces the Schools Guide annually, with the 2025 edition being supported by Durant Sports – one of the country’s leading suppliers of cricket ground equipment. Durant Sports managing director Cristian Durant said: “Congratulations to all the schools featured in this esteemed guide – now in its 10th year celebrating the nation’s best cricketing schools. This highlights the significant contributions of coaches and staff to grassroots cricket. Wishing you all a fantastic winter and the best of luck for the upcoming 2025 season.”
