It is an easy process to make contact with a school to discuss establishing links with your club. Each primary and secondary school in Scotland has an Active Schools Coordinator whose role it is to increase opportunities for children and young people in schools to engage in physical activity and sport and to strengthen pathways to participation and performance through sustainable school to community links.
For further information on Active Schools and the role of Active Schools coordinators see the Active Schools pages on the sportscotland website.
Key steps to developing school-club links:
- Who do we want to link up with and why?
- Before approaching the Active Schools Coordinator identify some possible ideas for the partnership
- Identify the information needed from the school
- How will we make contact
- What can we offer the partnership
- How will we need to manage and promote the links
Recognise the demands and time constraints on the school curriculum. A qualified coach, who understands the role that their sport plays within the physical education programme and who is aware of the learning needs of pupils, can be of significant help to the class teacher particularly if they do not have the same level of sporting knowledge or expertise as the coach.
"..Making the initial contact was the hard part. What has followed has been relatively easy to arrange and co-ordinate..."
ASC and GTF Taekwon-do Clubs in Fife recognise the importance of developing links with schools and run sessions in 12 local schools, ranging from supporting open days and school fetes to taking classes during Sports, Health and Fitness weeks.
Allan Cunnigham, Head Instructor said, "We really enjoy helping the schools out and are proud of the success and feedback we get from the schools, the teachers and the kids. Making the initial contact was the hard part. What has followed has been relatively easy to arrange and co-ordinate. Everyone at the club wants to see the club develop and so we all work together to support these initiatives."
Read more about the clubs' success in the case study that can be downloaded from the "Documents" section in the right hand panel.
The Active Schools Coordinator and school’s Head Teacher must be totally satisfied that the external coaches are qualified and competent to supervise the activities and that they have been fully briefed about their role and responsibilities and the school’s roles and responsibilities. It is also general practice for the school to ensure that coaches/leaders have an enhanced Disclosure Check although each local authority has their own policies and procedures.
The coach and Active Schools Coordinator should agree a form of contract, which outlines:
- A job description/ role of the coach / level of qualification
- The role of the class teacher
- The shared responsibility and development of the programme
- A commitment from the school to promote the sport and the club
- Agreement to encourage teachers/ parents to take part in appropriates coaching courses
- Specific manageable targets.
During curriculum time
For sessions being undertaken during curriculum time a teacher must be present at all times, remember that the teacher has the ultimate responsibility for the pupils. The coach should work with, not instead of, the teacher. These sessions can be used to provide teachers with some new ideas for skill development specific to your sport, so it is important to encourage the teacher to get involved. Remember that there needs to be an education bias therefore the coach must learn how to educate children as well as coach them.
After school time
Extra curricular or after school sessions require the attendance of a teacher on the school site at all times. It is also recommended that schools ask the parents to have complete and return parent consent forms.
All schools differ. A scheme that works in one school may not be suitable for another. School policy regarding external coaching and after school clubs also varies from school to school. Therefore each school’s policy must be referred to before any activity commences.
Considerations before commencing any school activity:
- School Site – facility risk assessment, teacher responsibility, caretaker’s role and responsibilities.
- First aid and access to telephone.
- Board of Governors and the Club’s Executive Committee have agreed the use of facilities.
- Equipment (club to school loan scheme may be required).
