Kicking off a new FA partnership!
Our pupils have helped to kick off a new partnership with the FA that will encourage more girls to get involved in the beautiful game both on and off the pitch.
The multi-academy trust to which our school belongs has recently been designated an FA Girls’ Area Hub. As such, Star Academies has joined a network of organisations that support and deliver girls’ football across England and pupils at Eden Girls’ School are set to reap the benefits.
Our school celebrated the announcement during Girls’ Football Week with daily football taster sessions to help boost their skills. All pupils in Years 7 to 10 had the chance to take part in lunchtime football coaching sessions to learn the basics of dribbling, passing and shooting, before taking part in a mini football tournament.
Future projects will get the pupils involved in activities beyond the pitch designed to boost their leadership and life skills.
Our Head of PE Emma Seabridge commented, “Our pupils were really enthusiastic about getting involved in our football skills building sessions during Girls’ Football Week. Although we already have a school football team, through the FA’s programme we will equip our pupils with the sport leadership skills to drive our team forward and build on its success. There’s also a chance for pupils to take on roles off the pitch to help manage and lead the team.”
Year 8 pupil Fathma Siddiqui said, “It was a very inspiring week, and encouraged me to play a lot more football. I really enjoyed the shoot-out and obstacle course. The activities helped me to play a lot better in our football tournament, also building my self-confidence. It was nice to see more students get involved in football during the week.”
Maryam Yusuf in Year 10 added, “I was given an opportunity to help support the football sessions. Girls’ Football Week was a great success and very enjoyable. Even students that didn’t like football got involved.”
As a hot spot for growth and development of girls’ football, Star Academies Area Hub commits to working with the FA to change perceptions and social barriers to participation and to create a strong, inclusive and engaging programme of activities.
Kate Hebden, the Trust’s Head of Pupil Leadership Specialism, commented, “As the first multi-academy trust to become an FA Girls’ Area Hub, Star Academies schools will have access to programmes developed by the FA to encourage more girls to get involved in the beautiful game, and not only as players.
“We aim to empower our female pupils to get involved in the sport both on and off the pitch, developing leadership skills and character traits that will stay with them for life. The FA’s aim through the Girls’ Area Hub programme is also to inspire more young women to consider careers in football.
“Staff in the schools taking part in the programme will also have access to FA accredited CPD courses leading to qualifications in sports coaching. The Trust will also be in a position to help the FA develop best practice for extending the programme.”
The FA Girls’ Area Hub programme, delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, takes learning opportunities through football way beyond the pitch.
The primary school programme, Active Literacy, aims to engage girls aged five to seven years in creative play and boost their literacy skills through football themed activities.
In secondary schools, the Game of Our Own programme empowers girls in Years 7 to 9 to set up and run their own football club as an after school activity. Aside from the players, many leadership roles are available to pupils including coach and event manager. Funding is also available to support pupils in the running of their clubs. In addition, teachers deliver character development sessions through their core curriculum PE that help pupils’ gain vital life skills such as motivating others, communication, empathy and leadership.
Year 9 pupils at Eden Girls’ School, Slough give their school’s football plans the thumbs up – left to right back: Sundus Mohamed, Maryam Imran, Miss Akhter, Safa Gountetti, Akifa Saleem; left to right front: Khadija Hussein, Sadiya Nadim, & Adna Ali
Eden Girls’ School pupils took part in daily football coaching sessions during Girls’ Football Week.
Added By: Eden Girls' School, Slough | Date Added: 21st Nov 2017 | Posted In: Latest News