BACA in Top 100 School for Cricket Award for 5th year running

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) has once again been rated in the prestigious Cricketer Magazine Top 100 Schools for Cricket for the fifth consecutive year. 

They are one of only 12 state funded schools and of those there are only 8 non selective schools. September 2023 has seen the biggest cohort of cricketers to be included in the programme since it began in 2013.

There are 53 cricketers from Year 7-13 taking part in the extensive cricket programme. BACA is the state school of choice for Sussex Cricket who deliver on the programme along with other guest coaches, Yasir Arafat and Georgia Adams. 

Director of Cricket for BACA and Sussex Women’s Head Coach, Alexia Walker said: “We are so happy to have been recognised yet again by The Cricketer Magazine as leading the way in cricket provision in the UK.

"We have a huge amount of talent across the school but most importantly the students are becoming superb well rounded individuals, balancing their academic studies and cricket training whilst contributing to all other aspects of school life as well.”

Principal Jack Davies said: “BACA are immensely proud of the cricket provision we continue to deliver to a very high standard around our academic programmes. We are an ambitious school inside and outside the classroom and the cricket programme epitomises this culture.”

Sir Rod Aldridge, founder of the Aldridge Foundation added his congratulations: “A great achievement for the team at BACA - leading the way in providing students in state schools the opportunity to experience playing this wonderful game.”

2024 Schools Guide reveals UK's best schools for cricket State and private schools are both well represented in the top 100, with the best all-girls and prep/junior schools also picked out by The Cricketer's judging panel for a place in the coveted 2024 Schools Guide.

The UK's best schools for cricket have been revealed in The Cricketer's Schools Guide 2024 - with an increasing number of state schools among those featured. This year's guide features the top 100 senior, top 50 prep/junior and top 20 all-girls schools for cricket in a bumper 164-page supplement. 

2024's successful roll call of schools – which features both state-funded and private establishments – was finalised after an exhaustive selection process that saw a huge number submit entries for inclusion in the guide. All entries were then judged against an extensive set of criteria, which included a compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programmes and coaching. 

The Cricketer magazine editor Huw Turbervill, who participated in BACA’s 10 Year Celebration this summer, said: "Our 2024 Schools Guide celebrates the best cricket programmes in state and independent schools across the country. The rise of women’s cricket in schools really has been a joy to behold. It is a pleasure to read the write-ups. 

The Cricketer researches and produces the Schools Guide annually, with the 2024 edition being supported by Durant Cricket – one of the country's leading suppliers of cricket ground equipment.

Cristian Durant, managing director of Durant Cricket, said: "At Durant Cricket, our relationship with The Cricketer holds immense value. Once again, they've showcased the outstanding commitment and coaching standards upheld by schools nationwide.”

The 2024 Schools Guide is a bumper 164-page supplement that's included alongside the December issue of The Cricketer magazine, as well as available to purchase separately here.

Students wishing to apply to the Aldridge Cricket Academy for Sixth Form study in September 2024 can apply here.