Playing For Success
Playing for Success
Playing for Success (PfS) is a Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) initiative established in 1997, in partnership with local authorities and a broad range of professional sports clubs and organisations. Out-of-school hours study support centres are established within the clubs’ grounds.
The project has been running successfully for over ten years now and currently there are 162 PfS centres open across the country, representing 18 different sports.
The core purpose of PfS is to engage pupils in a range of innovative, challenging learning activities within the respective stadiums during 10-weekly, two hourly, after-school sessions.
The medium of sport is used as a motivational tool, focusing on raising literacy, numeracy and ICT standards amongst key stage Two and Three young people (9 to 14 year olds), who are in danger of ‘underachieving’.
A strong emphasis is placed on improving the pupils’ attitudes, self-esteem and motivation to learn, thus giving them a real boost and, in many cases, a new start on which they can build on back at school.
Evidence from four national evaluations has shown that PfS contributes to significant improvements in pupils' literacy and numeracy skills and also greatly improves their self-confidence and motivation. Playing for Success has transformed the study support agenda and local authorities successfully use PfS as a step towards developing and complementing other educational activities. In many authorities, PfS has been extremely effective in raising standards, through personalising pupils' learning experiences.
Each centre is managed by a centre manager, (an experienced teacher), supported by tutor/mentors and other support staff, and centres provide access to state-of-the-art IT equipment. Typically, each pupil receives 20 hours of tuition.
Hull Kingston Rovers Playing for Success Study Support Centre is based at the Craven Park Stadium, working in partnership Hull KR and Hull City Council. The self-contained centre has two classrooms equipped with all the latest high-tech equipment.
Pupils attend a two-hour session, once a week, for ten weeks. Using the latest technology and inspiration from the Craven Park Stadium pupils undertake a range of activities aimed at improving their core skills, including making a stop-frame animation film, maths work using the pitch and a ‘Bush Tucker’-style healthy eating challenge.
The term concludes with a presentation evening, where those pupils who have attended have the opportunity to meet and interview some of the First team players or back-room staff and are presented with their certificates and awards gained over the term.
If you would like any further information about Playing for Success at Hull KR, then please contact Rob Prestwood, Playing for Success Development Officer, Craven Park Stadium, Preston Road, Hull, HU9 5EE, Tel No: (01482) 318079, Mobile No: 07887594754 or rob.prestwood@hullcc.gov.uk
