Sport

The importance of sports and games in school encompasses more than just the benefit of physical activity.

It increases self-esteem, highlights the importance of team work and engages and motivates young people.

The Trust has an innovative sports strategy that is transforming how sport is delivered and received across our network of academies. The strategy has five key areas.

Primary Sport

Primary sport has become an increased focus for the Trust.

This includes:

• The delivery of the unique Horizon programme to develop PE teaching, assessment and learning, whilst rewarding pupils for the progress they make
• Investment in court markings, kit and equipment to increase participation & encourage active lifestyles
• Staff CPD across all academies in key areas, including regular team teaching with specialists employed by the Trust
• Academy takeover days to educate staff and pupils on healthy eating, benefits of exercise, wellbeing and active lifestyles
• Creating a resource database for all academies to access lesson plans, rules and techniques
• Regular local sport association & Trust wide events to encourage more competition
• Working with local and national organisations to enhance what we offer in our academies
• Inspirational visits from elite sports men and women to inspire our children to get active, live healthy lifestyles and work hard to achieve their aspirations

Clubs and Coaching

The Trust are extremely proud to offer a wide range of clubs and sports which all our pupils can access in secondary academies. Across the Trust, our secondary academies run an average of 1500 fixtures a year, and over 1180 extra-curricular club sessions a term with more than 135,000 student visits to these throughout the academic year.

We’re proud to say this means our academies offer their pupils the opportunity to be more active, more often throughout their time with them.

These statistics highlight not just the volume of clubs and opportunities on offer, but that more students are selecting to take part in them. They are also inspired by the quality of coaching that they receive so that they keep coming back.

This is testament to the dedication of staff and the Trust’s partnerships with quality local clubs, without whom the coaching opportunities would be restricted.

Competition

From house tournaments to the Olympics, students have taken an active part in competitive sport at every level.

The highlight for many students is the headline Trust-wide event.

The Summer Cup, held annually at Grantham Meres Sports Stadium, sees over 1500 students take part in a celebration of competitive sport.  With 7 sports to compete in and a plethora of Olympians helping to inspire and motivate them throughout, the Summer Cup is a day our students aspire to be part of and will never forget.

This is just one of several Trust-wide sports events made available to our students, which always have a positive and lasting impact on the inspiration levels and aspirations of our young athletes.

Talent

The Trust is supporting many talented athletes with the potential and ability to excel at the highest of levels.

The Charnwood College Riders Basketball Team has won national and world schools titles, with many of their players representing the senior Leicester Riders teams in the BBL and WBBL.

At Charles Read Academy we host a Table Tennis Performance Centre, providing aspiring players the opportunity to train 20 hours a week. Since its launch in 2014 the programme has boasted various National school titles, selection for the World School Games and individual successes and International selections.

The football and netball Sixth Form teams at Malcolm Arnold Academy and Charnwood College have won many accolades and plaudits, with individual students progressing into performance teams, scholarships or University courses due to the additional training it provides, alongside a World Class education.

The All Star programme, bringing together the Trust’s best athletes into elite teams, continues to go from strength to strength. The football teams have taken on academy teams from leading Premiership and Championship clubs and the netballers and rugby squads have battled, and secured, victories against independent schools and leading netball sides in their age group.

The number of students representing their county, region or nation has more than trebled since the start of these programmes, with some students also being selected to take part in training camps with national teams and governing bodies.

Inspiration and Motivation

The Trust is committed to providing students with the most inspiring opportunities.

Athletes like Rebecca Adlington have cheered students on at the Summer Cup. Lawrence Dallaglio has taught rugby, and on a regular basis leading athletes come and lead coaching sessions in schools.

Perhaps the most motivating factor for many students though has been seeing one of their peers being selected to compete at the Rio Olympics.

Tom Jarvis, a Year 11 student from Skegness Grammar School, was part of Team GB’s table tennis team, and was on the plane to Rio with many other world-class athletes.

We want to inspire all our young people to get active and participate in these opportunities while they’re part of the Trust. Ensuring they enjoy all the additional benefits from participating in sport and physical activity and preparing them for an active lifestyle now and beyond. 

“The David Ross Education Trust’s Summer Cup is a truly inspiring and outstanding sporting event. The young athletes who took part are an absolute credit to their schools and local communities. I am sure that in the years to come, we will see some of this year’s Summer Cup competitors representing our country as part of the next generation of future sports stars.”

Jonathan Edwards CBE
Olympic, World, European and Commonweath triple jump champion

“I love coming to the Summer Cup and was delighted to commentate for the third time in 2019. It’s all about taking part and trying your best and the 1,500 young athletes are superb role models. There weren’t opportunities like this when I was at school and dreaming about competing on the world’s stage. It’s a great credit to the David Ross Education Trust that they’re leading the way.”

Colin Jackson CBE
British Olympic silver medallist and BBC sports presenter