STUDENTS from Whitcliffe Mount School had to make an early start to travel down to Surrey during School Sports Week – but it was worth the inconvenience.

The target for the pupils was Camberley Rugby Football Club, where they took part in a special training session with England players Geoff Parling and Rob Webber as part of England Rugby’s All Schools' programme.

Setting off at 5.45am, the Cleckheaton school joined students from four other schools from around the nation to practice bespoke rugby skills and drills circuits under the watchful eyes of the England players, with each school rotating round four stations, each with a different rugby-based activity.

After lunch, they competed in a touch rugby tournament.

Whitcliffe Mount School took up rugby union three years ago as part of the All Schools' programme, and rugby is now an integral part of the PE programme, with boys and girls from years seven to 11 all playing the sport as part of the curriculum.

The school has also forged good links with Cleckheaton and Castleford rugby union clubs

Whitcliffe Mount pupil Charlotte Long said: “I’ve had such a great time here – so has everyone else from the school.

"It was brilliant to meet Geoff and Rob and we got some good advice from them during the skills session.

"I started playing rugby at school and love it so much I now play for Castleford RUFC.”

Kieren Hanogue, who teaches PE at Whitcliffe Mount School, added: “It’s been fantastic to come here and well worth the long trip!

"All Schools has created loads of opportunities for boys and girls at the school to take up rugby. They are benefiting in many ways, including leadership skills.”

England hooker Webber said: “It’s been great to come here to Camberley RFC and meet everyone from Whitcliffe Mount School.

"They’ve shown some real enthusiasm and enjoyed themselves, which is what it’s all about.

"Rugby is relatively new to all these students and yet there have been some great skills on show.

"The school left at 5.45am in the morning to get here. That’s definite commitment! Being a Yorkshire lad myself, it was great to get to speak to them about how rugby has been having a positive impact on the school.”

The training session was supported by employees from CBRE, principal partner of All Schools, who have over 200 employees training to become coaches, referees or activators,

All Schools provides the opportunities for CBRE to get involved at grass roots level and build positive futures in the communities in which it operates.

* All Schools, launched in September 2012 by England Rugby in partnership with the Rugby Football Foundation, is one of seven areas identified by England Rugby to deliver the greatest participation legacy for the game in the lead up to the 2015 World Cup and beyond.

The aim is to have 400 schools enrolled nationwide by September’s World Cup and 750 schools by 2019.