Section Six

6.0   Specialist Sports Colleges and School Sports Co-ordinators

The “PE School Sport Club Links” programme (PESSCL) aims to increase participation rates among young people by co-ordinating existing EGP initiatives. The purpose is to create a network of partnerships between schools and golf clubs/facilities, to provide a safe and fun introduction to golf in the school environment and then facilitate a link between the schools and clubs to provide junior friendly exit routes for all children involved.

A “School Club Links” project is created through a partnership between a nominated Specialist Sports College, their partner schools and local golf clubs/facilities.

This is a national initiative, managed and delivered by Sport England, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the New Opportunities Fund and the Youth Sport Trust.  The programme aims to have 1,000 scho

ol sport co-ordinators across the country, working in partnership with a family of secondary and primary schools.

The PESSCL programme aims to establish and develop physical education and school sport, support programmes for local primary schools, develop links between schools and local sports clubs, establish and support after-school and inter-school sports programmes and develop leadership and coaching for senior students.

A PESSCL Partnership has the responsibility to provide the following:

·         A coordinated programme of golf coaching and activity sessions during and/or after school.

·         A Tri-Golf Festival for children introduced to golf in primary schools.

·         Follow on opportunities at a golf facility.

·         Access to membership within clubs (either full junior membership or a form of academy membership).

Although the structure may vary from one partnership to another, this diagram shows the principle of the scheme.

This structure forms the basis of the PESSCL initiative. An Officer from the England Golf Partnership draws together school and club representatives, with links to the County Union, Association and Local Authority as required. These organisations form the Project Group.

The Project Group write a development plan with the support of the EGP Officer outlining roles for all parties and clearly explaining the project expenditure. The Project Group also signs a partnership agreement to enshrine their commitment to the delivery of the project. The Project Group nominate a Project Co-ordinator to draw together the documentation and oversee the operation of the scheme. The documentation is then submitted to the EGP review panel. Subject to approval, the partnership are able to access start up funds to initiate the project (£2,000).

The Project Co-ordinator is responsible for organising the training for individuals to facilitate the delivery of Tri-Golf activity sessions into primary schools. This can include students, junior organisers, teachers, club members or other interested volunteers. Once trained these people are able to deliver Tri-Golf activity sessions during or after school. The children who attend these sessions are informed of follow on opportunities within the Clubs or at other junior friendly facilities.

The golf clubs involved in the project must have applied and be working towards “GolfMark” to ensure that they are junior friendly and able to provide safe, fun and enjoyable coaching and playing opportunities, at low cost and with few restrictions. The youngsters will have access to the facilities of the clubs and receive subsidised coaching from the club’s professional coaching staff.

6.1  Specialist sports colleges within the county

All the contacts for these facilities in the London boroughs’ of Middlesex can be sourced through the Pro Active London Partnerships or the local authority contacts.