The Premier League Inspires Challenge asks students to delve deeper into important social topics with this year’s focus being: ‘This is everyone’s game – gender equality’. Students were tasked with creating a social impact project in their schools which would help raise awareness and encourage constructive dialogue.

The groups were invited to Stamford Bridge after progressing from individual finals in each school and presented their projects to an expert panel of judges, including Laura Cordingley, chief executive of Chelsea Foundation. The presentations were judged on the level of research, originality, practicality, presentation skills, audience engagement and potential impact of the project.

After some excellent and detailed presentations from each of the groups, Tomlinscote School were declared the winners for their Feel Safe, Feel Good – Gender Equality Week proposal. Students Mia-Rae, Claudia, Elise, Sophia and Bella will now represent the Chelsea Foundation in the national Premier League Inspires Final at Wembley Stadium in April. London Oratory School came second, with Winston Churchill School in third.

Naomi Brown, behaviour support manager at Tomlinscote School, said : ‘The Premier League Inspires Programme is used for a wide range of students across the whole spectrum including those with low literacy scores, the middle attainers who are often missed out and some students with emotional or behavioural issues. I think that is why it works and is so well supported because it does not target one particular group. For a few of them today it is the first time they have ever been to a football stadium! I think they’ll be great at Wembley.’

Lisa Manley, skills and learning manager at Chelsea Foundation, said: ‘The Premier League Inspires Challenge uses football to help students think about wider issues in today’s society. It also gives students the opportunity to practise a range of other skills, such as presentation, communication and public speaking. All of the groups delivered a presentation they can be proud of. Congratulations to Tomlinscote School and good luck for Wembley!’

Premier League Inspires is a personal development programme, funded by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association, through the Premier League Charitable Fund.

The programme uses the power of football to inspire young people aged 11 to 18 to develop the personal skills and positive attitudes needed to succeed in life.