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The Haberdashers Aske’s School Sports partnership is proud to report on another very successful gifted and talented Multi Skill Academy Day which is part of the Government’s PE, School Sport & Young People (PESSYP) strategy.  The Multi Skills Academies were very successful last year with over 100 year 6 pupils taking part.

The aim of the academy is to create a multi skill environment and develop fundamental movement skills in a variety of approaches and to help young people develop physical skills from a broad development and movement vocabulary.  Each SSCO tested the most able pupils in year 5 (5 boys & 5 girls chosen by class teachers) in the summer term, looking at their potential in the fundamental movement skills.  Each pupil completed 7 physical tests.  The maximum score for the tests was 175.  The top 2 boys and top 2 girls were selected and invited to be part of the academy.

The first academy day for this cohort of pupils was on 22^nd June 2010 at Sedgehill School.  Over 110 pupils attended.  During the day they experienced trampolining, tennis, dance and table tennnis.  On 16^th November 70 of the same pupils spent the day together at St. Matthew Academy to embark on four different activities.  The weather was very cold and frosty in the morning so we decided to stay inside for all of our activities.  Hayley Mann (SSCO) and Liz Watson (AST at Brindishe Primary School) delivered strictly come dancing  sessions where  the pupils learnt how to do the cha-cha, they all had so much fun.  Chi from Nomad Tae Kwondo Club delivered very professional and innovating Tae Kwondo sessions which kept every pupil totally engrossed.  Lisa Miller introduced sports hall athletics where they had a chance to throw, jump and show their expertise in relay running and Majella Baily (SSCO) taught the pupils skills and routines on the trampoline.  Joe Harrison (SSCO) teaches at St. Matthew’s so he organised 3 excellent sports leaders to help throughout the day and generally made sure the day went to plan.

The academy day was a great success again and introduced the gifted and talented pupils of year 6 four new activities which they may be interested to continue in their own time.  Fliers promoting local clubs were given to the pupils.

The four pupils from each school work in four different groups throughout the day which encourages them to meet new people and realise that sport can be a very social tool and a springboard to becoming more confident.  Each pupil completed an evaluation form at the end so the partnership had their views on how the day went.  The comments were very positive and exciting.  Each pupil was given a certificate to celebrate their second day of the programme.

The day concluded in the school hall where members of the senior team congratulated the pupils on their achievements and gave them gifts of a pen, book mark and DVD of the school as a memento.

The next ACADEMY DAY IS 1^st February 2011.

Glen Burt (SSCO) & HASSP Team