The Playing for Success Scheme
Playing for Success is a partnership between the Department for Education and Skills, local authorities and a broad range of sports.This partnership has established out of school hours study support centres at sports clubs.
It began in 1997 with a small number of FA Premier League clubs, and quickly expanded to other football clubs in all divisions.
In 2000, it expanded its range to include other sports, such as Rugby League and Union, cricket, basketball and hockey.The scheme is currently run at 154 centres.
Each centre is run by a centre manager, who is a qualified experienced teacher, and supported by learning mentors, IT technicians, administration officers and, in some cases, by other teachers.
The centres use the environment and medium of sport as motivational tools and are all equipped with state-of-the-art IT facilities.
The aim of Playing for Success is to raise literacy, numeracy and information technology standards amongst Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 pupils who may be underachieving in these key skills and are often lacking self-esteem and confidence.
Therefore the secondary aim of the programme is to raise motivation and increase confidence.
Playing for Success At Burnley Football Club
Playing for Success at Burnley began in 2002 and was officially launched by Charles Clarke, Minister for Education, in April 2003.
The Centre operates from the Press Room at Turf Moor, which accommodates a computer suite with internet access.The Centre has the following equipment available for use in sessions:
- 9 networked PCs
- 20 networked laptops
- 3 colour printers
- 1 photocopier
- 1 interactive whiteboard
- 1 scanner
- 4 digital cameras
- 6 video cameras
- 7 Apple
- 7 Unibrain cameras
- Video Conferencing facilities
Pupils will attend for a 2 hour session for 10 weeks.Primary children will attend from 3.40pm to 5.40pm and will be collected from school by an escort mentor and returned to school after the session, to be collected by their parents and carers.
Secondary children attend from 5.40pm to 7.40pm and are also returned to their school after the session.
In addition to having the opportunity to learn at a football club and meet some of the people who work there, a system of rewards for attitude, attainment and attendance is operated.
Pupils that achieve a satisfactory level of attendance will receive match tickets for a Burnley FC home game.A celebratory event is held at the end of the term and parents and staff are invited to attend.
