News

September 2011
Stafford and Stone School Sport Partnership Goes for Gold

 

Following a turbulent year in 2010-2011, where the Coalition Government made huge cuts to School Sport Partnerships, this year will hopefully bring different fortunes for the Stafford and Stone School Sport Partnership.  Steve Glover will continue to be the Partnership Development Manager (also in the role of School Games Organiser) and will aim to provide more opportunities in sport for the young people of Stafford and Stone.

A main priority for schools in the partnership this year will be the “School Games”.  The School Games is a new approach to competitive school sport designed to motivate and enthuse all young people. Using the unique power and energy of London 2012, now is the time to inspire everyone to take part. Our young people expect and deserve the best – this means an approach to competitive sport that is inclusive of all young people, is about personal best rather than simply ‘the’ best, is exciting, well presented, offers a wide variety of sports and which gives other opportunities for pupils to get involved through cultural activities, organisation, officiating and volunteering.

The School Games is a key Government priority for realising a meaningful sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  With support from 3 Government Departments - Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health and the Department for Education – and funding from Sport England, through the National Lottery, the School Games underline this Government’s commitment to providing a new approach to competitive school sport designed to motivate and enthuse all young people.

With the support of a newly established network of School Games Organisers funded by the Department for Education, there is a chance to create a year round sporting calendar specifically designed to get young people competing at intra-school and inter-school levels, culminating in local, regional and national events.

No matter what their experience, talent or ability, the School Games is open to all young people. Pupils should be able to progress in competitive school sport and the School Games provides the connectivity to achieve this. The School Games is a celebration of competitive sport for pupils that provides opportunities for all young people and is split into 4 distinct but integrated levels.

Along with working on the “School Games” the Stafford and Stone School Sport partnership will continue to work on other initiatives and programmes.

The annual Dance Festival will once again take place in May at Stafford’s Gatehouse Theatre.  Due to the popularity, two nights will be taken over with a theme of “The Olympic Games”.  Linking in with the Dance Festival, it is hoped the SSP will form the Stafford Dance Company with the highlight being a huge day of dance in the district in the summer of 2012.  Another addition will be a Boys Dance club commencing in the autumn, 2011.

Continued success and popularity will see more Cheerleading and Gymnastics clubs in the Borough.  The newly formed Stafford Flames cheerleading club will see sessions held each Monday and Wednesday at John Wheeldon and Barnfields Primary Schools.  A new community gymnastics club will also operate on Thursday evenings at John Wheeldon Primary school (places are strictly limited).  Coaching in both clubs will be by Lyndsey Meek and Jess Perry who both have minimum of Level 2 qualifications in the relevant sports.

A new community club to start in September will be Under 7 Girls Football – at Stafford Sports College.  This will take place on Wednesdays (5pm-6pm) with coaching from Steve Glover (Former Stoke City Academy Coach) and Hannah Woodford. 

 

Assisting with all the great work of the School Sport Coordinators and Teachers within the partnership will be a number of students form Stafford College and Staffordshire University.  Eleven work placements will be provided in total and will support the work of the School Games.  These students will be an essential part of providing the same level of opportunities for young people.  One student (Caron Fincher) from Staffordshire University will also undertake the role of Media Officer and continue to share the good work of the SSP.

“Active Lifestyles” will be a key component of the work in 2011/2012.  The SSP will provide 29 Active Plus clubs (30 weeks of the year), and work in partnership with South Staffs PCT – Healthy Kid5 to provide Active Families sessions.  To support both of these initiatives will be the Active Families Fitness Suite at Stafford Sports College.  This is a new, state of the art gym with brand new Technogym equipment.  Adult Membership is only £75 per annum.

Girls Active work will be driven by the SSCo’s and also Steve Glover.  Planned are two regional days to encourage more girls to take part in Sport, PE and Physical Activity.  It is also hoped the Girls Active group will continue links with Katherine House and Race for Life charities.  A highlight of the year might be the various Girls Active Groups walking up Mount Snowdon in North Wales.

Working with local clubs will again be of high importance to all schools in Stafford and Stone.  Great links have already been formed with many clubs including Stafford Town FC, Weston Table Tennis Club and many others.  A new link will hopefully be with Stafford Rangers F.C.  A number of meetings have already taken place with the clubs commercial department to see how each might support each other – with a potential event at the Chasetown FC game in March.

Local pupils will once again be given opportunities to be involved in Midland and National events.  Hannah Gamston a student at Blessed William Howard and Stafford College has been invited to sing at the National School Sport Conference.  She will be closing the conference by singing a track by Adele at the Telford International Centre in October, 2011.

The culmination of the year’s events will once again be National School Sport and the partnership’s successful Celebration of Sport Event.  Big and exciting events are in the pipeline and information on these will be announced in the New Year.

Steve Glover, Partnership Development Manager said, “We are really looking forward to the new academic year and the challenges it provides.  Despite the cuts to our funding, our mission remains the same – ‘to provide as many high quality opportunities and activities in “sport” to all young people of Stafford and Stone’.  It is great to have the support of Hub School, Stafford Sports College, which has a great ethos to develop young people through sport.  All secondary school Headteachers in Stafford are also fully supportive of the work of our SSP. In the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games it is essential that we maximise all the upcoming opportunities and exposure.  I will endeavour, as ever, that the Stafford and Stone School Sport Partnership is a leader in sport delivery, both locally and nationally.”

To gain any further information please contact:

Steve Glover – Partnership Development Manager – Stafford and Stone School Sport Partnership.

07825 999088 or email steve.glover@staffordandstonessp.co.uk

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