A primary school has embraced the rising popularity of women's football by hosting a boys and girls football tournament.

The England women's team's run to the 2019 World Cup semi-final sparked an increase in female participation across the country.

Now, Gads's Hill school in Gravesend Road, Higham is encouraging young girls to get involved.

Football is taught to both girls and boys with juniors and younger seniors regularly playing together in PE lessons and older students given the choice of playing a number of sports, including football.

Last month, girls from local primary schools were invited to take part in the school’s first mixed football tournament.

Six teams of girls and boys competed in the Under 11 round-robin competition, which was hosted by Gad’s Juniors, in their school grounds in Higham near Rochester.

PE teacher Charlotte Jago said: “Our girls have been inspired by this year’s coverage of women’s football and the sport has become increasingly popular among them.”

In a recent assembly, Year 4 pupils met Parm Gill, a pioneer for women’s football, who told them the sport “isn’t just for boys”. Parm founded the Guru Nanak FC women’s team in Gravesend and its success earned her the UEFA’s Grassroots Gold Award Best Leader award earlier this year.

According to The Football Association, the number of women who are committed football players in England has increased by 850,000 since this summer’s World Cup.

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