The afternoon was organised by the Northampton School Sports Partnership to celebrate Greenfields School’s designation as a sports college, the first special school in the county, and one of very few in the country to be given this status.

142 children, together with support staff and trained sports leaders from all the special schools took part in the afternoon’s activities.

Students were grouped across the full range of disabilities into four teams. The most able students acted as leaders and helpers for those who required more assistance. They competed in a range of rugby skills and finished with a ‘no-holds-barred’ free-for-all at the end of the 90-minute session.

This is the first cluster of special schools in the country to run as a self-sufficient unit and have been piloting integrated sports lessons since September.

It’s also the first time Franklin’s Gardens has hosted this type of event.

“This was a great opportunity to further the links between the Sports Partnership, the schools involved and Northampton Saints,” said Tim Marston of Greenfields School and Sports College. “Events like this show the benefit of specialist coaching and integrated activity within the special school community.”

“We’re delighted and honoured to host this unique event,” said Saints head of community Sian Haynes. “The special schools are an integral part of our school programme that we run here at the Saints. Coaching has taken place at the schools but to be able to accommodate all of the schools on the Franklin’s Gardens pitch at the end of the season is fantastic.

“It’s great to see so many children with smiles on their faces in the sunshine and long may it continue.”