Oxford United in the Community’s Premier League Primary Stars programme has gone from strength to strength.
The club’s charity has been working in partnership with the Premier League to inspire children at primary schools in the county to learn, be active, and develop important life skills.
The programme has been carefully developed with teachers to use the power and popularity of football and Oxford United to motivate children and connect their learning to the world around them.
Learning is connected to the real world of sport to enthuse pupils when tackling challenging Personal, Social and Health Education topics such as resilience, diversity, self-esteem and fair play. Coaches work with teachers to deliver fun, educational sessions in a range of subjects within local partner schools to increase the value and impact of this innovative programme.
Positive impact has been delivered in schools including Rose Hill Primary School, North Kidlington Primary School, and Wolvercote Primary School.
Chris Lowes, Head of Oxford United in the Community said: “We have received some fantastic feedback from Head Teachers which is really encouraging.
“Rose Hill Primary School have reported there is less conflict between children in the playground as a result of the sessions we deliver.
“We also had a positive effect at Wolvercote primary school who immediately asked for us to come back after 6 weeks of implementing our Personal, Social and Health Education improving behaviours programme. This was a programme targeted at Year 3 and 4 pupils who struggle academically and on the playground at controlling their emotions.
“The team led by our Schools Manager Ross Layton have done a superb job and are now looking forward to delivering even more positive impact in primary schools across Oxfordshire.”
Ross Layton added: “The main objective of our Premier League Primary Stars programme was to improve enjoyment and quality of PE in the county and increase children’s’ cognitive skills and co-ordination. We wanted to create a programme that was always looking to develop and improve through feedback provided and constantly looking to make our quality improve. This Programme has evolved rapidly and as a result our ambitions and aims must match this and we are actively looking engage with as many schools as we can across the county.
“Our programme has gone from strength to strength over the past three years and we are experiencing an increase in the amount of schools contacting us to ask about the programme and what it entails. We have developed strong partnerships across the county which has also benefitted us and the outreach of the programme. So far this year we are already actively working in seven schools in different ways through the Premier League Primary Stars Programme.”
Oxford United in the Community is the football club’s official charity and helps inspire youngsters to reach their potential and improve their health and wellbeing via the power of football, engagement and education.
The charity is currently celebrating its 30-year anniversary. As part of the anniversary celebrations the charity launched a Dream Big Appeal to raise funds in its 30th year to help it do more impactful work across Oxfordshire. You can donate via the Just Giving page.