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Education NewsStudents show primary school pupils a volley good time at City TOP Link Festival
Students from the Sixth Form College last week leant their hands to the 11th City TOP Link Festival at Northwood Stadium.
The annual event is run to celebrate the variety of sporting activities taking place in Stoke-on-Trent schools on a daily basis and recognises the vital role that sports leaders play in helping staff to organise events in schools, in colleges and in the wider community.
Jack Armstrong, Dave Grimes and Alistair Donald, all formerly of Madeley High School, took part in volleyball sessions with Smallthorne Primary School and Mill Hill Primary School.
“It was like a mini-Olympics with pupils from school each representing a country and competing in games”, said Alistair. “We had groups of 20-30 pupils and we tried to teach them the basic skills in order to help improve their game. I coach volleyball at Madely High School as an after school activity, but this was very different.”
“Leadership is important”, he added. “We had to be role models for the young children. It was interesting to see how they responded. They did really well.”
Curriculum Manager for PE, Phil McPherson, was very positive about they students’ experience. “It helped them develop social skills, confidence and communication skills. They are doing this as part of the College’s Sports Makers programme”, he said. “This is part of the overall vision of the College as it helps build partnerships with local primary and secondary schools as well as giving the students vital work experience. Some of them have said that they want to be teachers in the future, so this experience is important.”