Leicester Sports Partnership Trust Conference

1. Leicester Sports Partnership Trust Conference Mel Berry Principal – Soar Valley College

2. Soar Valley College • 1280 students aged 11-16 • Multi-ethnic, multi faith school. • 2009 moved in to a new building as a part of the Building Schools for the Future [ BSF ] Programme. • Also we significantly developed the outdoor environment and sports facilities. • We have a strong community focus and the site / facilities have been developed with this in mind.

3. Key aspects of our strategies relating to Sports development. Supportive Governing Body BSF programme – having a clear vision as to what we wanted to achieve. Exploiting all opportunities to access additional funding. Creating first class facilities Ensuring facilities relate to needs, interests, local and wider community - open 7 days a week. Working in Partnership eg LCC, Sport England, national organisations and local leagues / clubs Facilities to inspire and to meet our aspirations.

4. School site and facilities

7. Creating capacity to ensure best use of our facilities Students – Sports Coordinators Excellent PE Department – taught curriculum and extra curricular Facilities Coordinator – first point of contact. Business Manager – contracts, links with clubs and community. Capacity Extended Schools and SSC – vital role in providing opportunities and developing links. Strong business plans for each facility. Developing strong club links

8. ‘Our’ students – developing a legacy. Providing them with first class facilities Links with clubs and associations to ensure progression Excellent range of sports and opportunities in Years 7-11to meet all needs and interests. Fully inclusive provision Experiences and opportunities Developing students as Sports Leaders – and giving wide range of opportunities to demonstrate leadership. Wide range of extra -curricular activities and opportunities Exposure to local, regional and national competition and events

9. Other links and developments • Primary School Festivals – numerous. • Tesco Sport sessions – Primary students. • Visits from ‘world class’ athletes - eg rugby, cricket and athletics; inspirational figures. • National, Regional and County teams using facilities. • Netball – excellent partnership, demonstrating what is possible. • Visits to National teams / grounds – including Leicester Tigers for a coaching session, Old Trafford. • Helping to host the Special Olympics. • Using sporting activities as a catalyst to develop literacy skills. • 14 Family Sports Festivals per year – some of which have fed in to City competitions including the Youth Games to represent the city regionally.

11. One male student’s current experiences Post 16 – Club links and Umpiring Participating – school; cricket, badminton, frisbee, county hockey. Club – Leicester West. [ spotted training with Year 9 team ] Adult First Aid Qualification Prit – Year 11 student Volunteering – Sports Leaders Award. V Cricket Award. Umpired County Youth and Primary schools. Self esteem and confidence raised significantly. Duke of Edinburgh Award – Archery as main sport / used cricket as volunteer activity

12. One female student’s experiences Finalist in the Get Set to make your mascot design competition – one of 2 finalists from East Mids. Youth Games Personal Sport. Primary School Sports Festivals ADISTAR Young Ambassador. D of E Award Scheme Jasmin – Year 10 FA Junior Football Leaders Award Young Sport Leaders Award Step into Sport Leaders Camp

13. Club Links – past 12 months Dance – 2 groups Cricket – 5 teams including Leicestershire & Rutland. Badminton – 2 teams Hockey – 9 teams Netball – England, Leicestershire Association, Leicester[shire] Schools, Leicestershire Club League, various teams. Basketball – 3 teams Trampolining Club Table Tennis Karate Club Various Faith Groups – several very large sports events. Football – 23 teams. Orienteering

14. Outcomes. • Local, regional and national success at individual and team level. • Very high participation rates in school sport. • Large number of teams and individuals in a wide range of sports – male and female. • High number of trained First Aiders and Sports Leaders supporting sport in the Primary schools, own school and community. • National Sports Ambassador – chosen to carry the Olympic Torch. • Lots of volunteers at events – Special Olympics, Faith Groups, Primary Festivals etc etc.

15. Olympics. • Olympic Torch Relay – inspirational figure of Tommy Godwin. • Taj – official torchbearer and National Sports Ambassador for England and British Colleges Sport. • We are holding various special sporting events to ‘celebrate’ the Olympics. • Achieved ‘Getset 2012 networking status for our school plus 10 primary schools. • Year 10 – national finalist in design a Mascot competition.

17. The future ? • Why not have international players and Olympians coming from Leicester schools and Soar Valley College? • Valuing and giving opportunities to students who will become the ‘unseen heroes’ in local and national sport – as referees, coaches, administrators etc. • Ensuring high participation rates in a wide range of sports and instilling a love for sport at any level. • Ensuring strong links with clubs and associations and progression post 16. • Continuing to provide first class facilities and opportunities for all of our students and the community. • Not to assume we have to lose any more top performing students to institutions outside of Leicester. • Not just retaining - but building on the excellent infrastructure we have across the city. • Aspire, enjoy and achieve !!