Accrington Academy

Game of Our Own Case Study: Accrington Academy July 2019 7 Background Accrington Academy is a mixed 11-18 Academy with approximately 1,380 students, located in Accrington, Lancashire. The school prides itself on having a vibrant, happy and successful environment, delivering the highest standard of education and nurturing individual’s talent and skills. Accrington Academy has extremely well-designed outside facilities within the spacious grounds, having football/rugby/hockey pitches as well as an all-weather 3G pitch and 4 netball courts. Accrington Academy are a newly recruited school within the Game of Our Own programme, and have been involved since the start of the 2018/19 academic year. Youth Sport Trust conducted a case study visit at Accrington Academy on Wednesday 3rd July 2019, hosted by their PE teacher, Sarah Lawson. The case study visit aimed to establish the value of Game of Our Own since Accrington had begun the programme, and highlight any short term and longer-term outcomes since its inception. Evaluation activities included observation of girls’ after-school football session, a focus group with Football Activators and attendees at the football session, and an interview with Miss Lawson as the lead PE teacher for girls’ football. Current Activities Ten “Acc-tivators” have been recruited to take part in the Game of Our Own programme across Year 7-9, all of whom attend the weekly football session led by Accrington Stanley Ladies coach, Elle Kayley. Since their programme training at the start of the year, the Activators have worked hard to think of creative ways to invite more girls to attend the sessions, including: • “Bring your friend to football” • Easter celebrations • Ticket invitations • “Acc-tivators” Instagram account which logs and promotes their weekly football activities. Participation has increased as part of the programme, with as many as 35 girls attending for multiple sessions and a consistent group of approx. 20 per week. Most recently, the Football Activators ran an event with 10-12 primary schools in the local area, in which they planned their own individual 5-10-minute football sessions. When planning the sessions, the girls used the Game of Our Own resource cards and highlighted key skills that are developed through playing football (e.g. resilience, determination), with the primary school girls. 8 Impact of Game of Our Own Prior to Game of Our Own, Elle Kayley had been running football sessions at Accrington Academy; however, Miss Lawson reports that such football activities were predominantly focused towards playing fixtures. Since the programme, there is now a bigger push to get more girls to participate in football and cascade this message within primary schools. Miss Lawson highlighted how the girls have developed multiple skills as a result of the programme, including: • Communication skills – working with primary schools and sharing messages. • Team working skills - girls from different age groups are working together on the same team. • Resilience/determination – the girls have worked hard to improve on their own skills and not given up in the sessions. • Listening skills – the girls take the advice on board from Ellie and work hard on the tactical aspect of the game. Furthermore, Miss Lawson notes that the Football Activators have developed as role models, and taken it upon themselves to take the responsibility and leadership to help those younger than them, whether that is Year 9 girls helping out the Year 7 Activators, or all of the Football Activators leading on the primary school event. “With the girls wearing the Game of Our Own kit, and knowing they are part of the programme, it has made them so determined, it’s like it’s their job now!” (Miss Lawson, PE Teacher) Miss Lawson reports how the Football Activators realised the importance of the task after attending the Game of Our Own training day, and the responsibility they had to get more girls into football. Since the start of the programme, Miss Lawson pinpointed the primary school event as the girls’ biggest achievement so far. Specifically, the girls took leadership role for the full two-hour session, drawing upon everything they have learned since the start of the programme to plan, design and undertake their football activities with the primary school girls. When speaking with Football Activators, girls consistently reported how the programme helped to boost their confidence both on and off the pitch. Using the primary school event as an example, girls also highlighted how their leadership skills have improved in which they have since taken on more responsibility within their own football sessions. 9 Next Steps The Activators have really helped As Accrington are in their first year of the Game of Our Own the girls in the training sessions to build their confidence! programme, the intention is to build upon the success they (Miss Lawson, PE Teacher) have experienced thus far. Specifically, Miss Lawson highlights the need for more consistency in the number of girls who are attending the football sessions in the future. Furthermore, following the increase in confidence amongst When we play football, it feels any of the Football activators, the intention is to get more girls empowering! physically leading the football sessions – for example, leading (Football participant, Year 8) the warm-up and eventually taking more responsibility to lead their own drills and activities. Following the success of the primary school event, Miss The girls loved meeting the Lawson reports that Accrington should look to create similar lionesses, and was fantastic for opportunities in the future, for the girls to participate in or some of the girls who aspire to be officiate at. This could be planned into girls’ YSA award or at that level. within the schools’ leadership programme. (Miss Lawson, PE Teacher) Key recommendations When I ran the sessions with the Following discussion with teachers and pupils, the following primary school pupils, I got better key recommendations were highlighted, as best practice to at telling people what to do, increase girls’ participation in football: rather than being shy. (Football Activator, Year 7) ✓ Use creative advertisements to increase engagement in girls’ football sessions (e.g. posters, leaflets, invitations) ✓ Create incentives for the girls to win prizes as milestones if they attend a certain number of sessions. Their leadership skills have ✓ Get more girls physically leading sessions with the support developed so so much! of a member of staff, as the programme progresses. (Miss Lawson, PE Teacher) ✓ Champion the skills developed in the Game of Our Own programme alongside internal/external leadership programmes. 10 YST RESEARCH The Youth Sport Trust (YST) is a national children's charity passionate about creating a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits that come from play and sport. YST Research offers research, analysis, insight and evaluation services to organisations with an interest in the wider children and young people’s sector. Our research expertise is focussed on improving the wellbeing of children and young people through sport and physical activity. Our specialisms include: • Education, PE and school sport • Community sport / clubs • Early years settings • Life skills and employability • Activism and volunteering • Health (physical, social and emotional) By working with us, you are supporting us to achieve our mission to improve children’s lives and their future. Contact us: Youth Sport Trust SportPark Loughborough T 01509 226600 University E [email protected] 3 Oakwood Drive W WWW.YOUTHSPORTTRUST.ORG Registered Charity Number 1086915 Loughborough @YOUTHSPORTTRUST Registered Company Number Leicestershire LE11 3QF YOUTHSPORTTRUST 4180163 1 .

Load more