England star Matt Prior swapped cricket for collages as he visited George Eliot Primary School earlier this week to help launch Chance to Shine's Brit National Cricket Day. 

Matt spent time in class helping kids to use a collage-based lesson plan from the ECB's Ashes School Challenge educational resource before heading outside to take part in a cricket session with thirty lucky youngsters.

On Tuesday (18th June) children and schools across the country will take part in Brit National Cricket Day. It is a day to celebrate cricket in schools and there will be cricket-themed classroom sessions and playground activities in schools and cricket clubs. To tie in with the upcoming Investec Ashes series, this year's event is Australia themed. It is free to get involved and is open to all schools and cricket clubs.

Speaking at the school Matt said, "It's been a phenomenal day here. It has been great watching the excitement growing amongst the kids not just for cricket and the Ashes but also in the classroom and seeing them enjoying the collage lesson using the Ashes School Challenge. Using sport in the classroom is so important. It really excites children and gets the best out of them." 

Teacher Jessica Costin, commented, "The kids had an amazing time. George Eliot Primary School would like to thank Matt Prior for giving us a chance to shine."

Chance to Shine is encouraging all schools to use the Ashes School Challenge for this year's National Cricket Day. It is a free interactive primary school resource that enables students to learn about Cricket and The Ashes using activities that are mapped against the National Curriculum. 

Chance to Shine is keeping cricket alive in state schools. Before Cricket Foundation launched Chance to Shine in 2005, less than 10% of state schools played any form of meaningful cricket. Eight years on and 2million children have been educated through playing cricket in 7,000 schools.