FUTURE SPORTS CLUB – FOSTERING UNLIMITED TALENTS USING RECREATIONAL EDUCATION
The principal goal of this programme is highlighted in the name of the club
MISSION STATEMENT
To foster the talents through recreational education and produce well rounded individuals for the future.
RATIONALE
Research has shown that sporting activities and academic endeavours can be fostered in the same environment and meet with significant success - “Children learn better where they play.
Worldwide sporting clubs have fostered both the sporting as well as academic prowess of young people. In the UK through the Playing for Success government initiative 27 centres were evaluated as producing high achievement amongst their participants in their pilot projects.
All evaluations have demonstrated PfS to be very effective in raising standards and in motivating young people who are underachieving. Key findings from the fourth evaluation are:
· on average primary pupils improved their numeracy scores by an average of 17 months, and secondary by 24 months;
· Whilst primary pupils' reading comprehension did not quite reach statistical significance, secondary pupils' performance improved by 8 months;
· pupils ICT skills improved significantly;
· pupils made significant progress in their independent study skills and self image, and parents and teachers noticed particular improvements in their attitudes to education; DfeS UK.
Future Sports Club recognises that many of the students identified as ideal for this project, have a great love for football and do extremely well at it. Participants in local football teams have enjoyed considerable success and even obtained scholarships to improve upon their sporting skills. A most recent example is that of Shakeina Bush who joined future at age 11 and started playing on the boy’s team until a girl’s team was started . She stood with the club until graduating and has now been granted a football scholarship to study Civil Engineering at Florida International University in the U.S. .
Our idea is to create an environment where the discipline obtained in the area of sports can be transferred to academic pursuits and produce a balanced student.
Part of our vision is to raise the self esteem of students by providing a programme that as well as creating the balance between the academic and sporting pursuits will through the use of mentors in the form of local personalities e.g. Charles Whittaker inspire them to recognise that their ability to achieve is limitless.
OBJECTIVES
- To assist students participating in soccer with their homework
- To create an environment where interest in all round achievement is possible.
- To cater to the individual as well as to the collective needs of participants
- To assist students with their core subject needs
- To enhance the Maths, English and ICT components of the curriculum
- To encourage the participation of local role models to support achievement
- To link with similar initiatives worldwide to foster international student partnerships.
- To liaise with and encourage parental involvement.
- To interact with business and community leaders to solicit sponsorship.
METHOD
Instructions for the program will be provided by competent qualified facilitators with years of experience in the areas to be taught.
The program will be divided into three levels Level 1 (Primary school) Level 2 (middle school) Level 3 (High school). Instruction will be provided throughout all levels in the core areas Math, English and Information Technology with the view of incorporating other areas of interest as the project progresses. The program will cover all areas presently in the core subjects of the school’s curriculum and encompasses primary to secondary level.
The program will be continuously assessed and monitored as it is our vision that any benefits derived from this project will be expanded into the wider community.
It is intended that the pilot project will be closely monitored and an evaluation report will be produced after the first year of the project (i.e in January 2008) which is intended to commence in early January 2007.There will be an initial as well as an interim assessment. During this time a comparative analysis between school results and our own internal assessment will be carried out to determine whether there has been any significant level of achievement in the areas of literacy, numeracy and information technology.
It is also proposed that from time to time we will access sporting personalities and invite them in to give some motivational presentations.