Entries Tagged 'Thomas Becket' ↓

Northampton has had a Double Club since 2006, now we have a report carried out by NFER (National Foundation for Educational Research) which our schools contributed data to. It’s great to see how successful this project has become locally and across the country (there are now 30+ clubs participating) and be recognised as a project of its own standing alongside PfS. Click below to download

nfer-dc-national-report

It’s also on the DCSF website: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/index.cfm?type=5

It being week 12 of this term’s Double Club, the group were presented with their certificates of achievement (and medals to follow) in the year 8 assembly. Mr Doveston talked about the project and its success in the school so far. (This is the 2nd cphort of year 8s to go through) Beccy Roseman praised the students’ hard work, enthusiasm and energy each week. Graeme Wilson, the project’s multiskills coach from NSport reinforced this by describing the kind of activities the group had undertaken and their engagement in the practical sessions.

For more on the Double Club at Thomas Becket: http://double.northantsstudycentres.org/thomas-becket/

This week the Double Club discussed racism in sport and in the wider community. They watched ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ DVD and listened to famous players talking about their attitudes towards racism, their experiences of it and examples. The group then had a ‘free talk’ about how they felt about the DVD’s content and Britain being a mulitcultural society. They then completed some literacy work, mind mapping suggestions for how to kick racism out of professional football, school, young people’s minds and amateur football.

In the ICT session, the students compiled presentations, factsheets, newsletters and posters about anti-racism. They had to include a famous player’s quote, think up their own sports-themed slogan and some information about anti-racism campaigns such as ‘Kick it Out’, ‘Stand up Speak up‘ and ‘Show Racism the Red Card’.

A few people reported back to the group about their book review homework. The previous week Beccy asked students to choose a sports book from the library and do a review on it.

Player/team anagrams and playing card maths served as ‘brain-breaks’. For more on the Double Club at Thomas Becket: http://double.northantsstudycentres.org/thomas-becket/

Double Clubbers from Thomas Becket School visited the Steelbacks Study Centre and Northants County Cricket Club on Thursday 12th March. Yvonne Tervit and Lynn Harrison from the centre led the day’s activities which started with a word association game in the new study centre. (ooooh posh!) The group had to stand up and shout out associated words, alternating nouns and adjectives.

Next was the stadium tour and students made notes about all the areas in the ground. We saw the first team (Nial O’Brien, David Wigley, Graeme White…) in training in the indoor arena with their coaches David Capel, David Ripley and Kevin Innes. The idea was to look for ways to advertise the ground to get more spectators to visit. They had to write a script to plan their persuasive speech to be recorded onto the applemac laptops later using the garageband voice programme.

The pairs came up with some great ideas and used the knowledge they had just learnt from the tour to encourage visitors to the ground. To see more about the centre: www.steelbacksstudycentre.org and the club on www.nccc.co.uk.

On 5th March 09, Cobblers youth team players Ben Judd and Ross Oulton visited the school’s library to help celebrate World Book Day and to work with a group of year 8 students who have been taking part in the Double Club this term. The lads answered pre-prepared questions from the youngsters based around reading, books, authors, types of reading and studying. Of course there were the usual football and general questions too. This information will be used for follow up literacy/ICT work in a later Double Club session. Ben and Ross did well explaining their answers and had a laugh talking with the students about films, cars, famous footballers and pets. As all NTFC youth team players study sports-related courses at Moulton College, it shows school children what sorts of courses are available and how to balance work and study commitments. Thanks to the lads as well as Louise, the school librarian. These appearances always make a big impact on pupils and their learning.

Special reading-themed sessions followed, with students doing a ‘programme trail’ using NTFC match day programmes. They were asked to solve literacy and numeracy clues using reading skills such as scanning for key information, to solve a NTFC-themed crossword. Next they read a chapter from ‘Bend it Like Beckham’. The group discussed and wrote about how the lead character Jess felt when certain events occurred, such as getting fouled, getting sent off, scoring a goal and having racist abuse shouted at her. The group really got into the character’s mind and explored various issues and themes within the book. Many students had a go a reading aloud, which was great to hear. The group watched the corresponding section of the tie-in DVD and chatted about whether the actors’ facial expressions matched the feelings of the book’s characters.

Earlier in the day, the students participated in their weekly practical session of multi-skills with Northamptonshire Sport coach Graeme Wilson. The ‘double’ experience of physical and educational sessions aims to motivate and engage students in their learning. Having NTFC players to interview provides an excellent opportunity for showing how the power of sport interests children in their schoolwork as well as an example of using sport across the curriculum.

To find out more about  the Youth team visit: http://www.ntfc.co.uk/page/YouthIndex/

http://double.northantsstudycentres.org/thomas-becket/

In week 6, the Double Club group visited the Saints Study Centre at Franklin’s Garden’s stadium. They prepared for an official press interview with Study Centre co-ordinator Jeanette Campkin putting them through their paces. They practised asking questions, making up their own and voice techniques. Everyone had to think of which media organisation they were ‘from’, such as Sky Sports, Saints news, Sportsround and Setanta. They interviewed Saints community coaches Rowland Winter and Liam Welsh. The students learnt a great deal about the two coaches and made notes about: early sporting memories, heroes, school experiences, reading habits, favourite foods and animals, recently watched films and other sporting interests. Some interesting questions came from the pupils as well. The two lads were excellent in answering a barrage of questions and had a laugh with the group. Next, students worked in the ICT suite to write up their notes in a player profile PowerPoint. To see some of their work, download examples below. We think you’ll agree, the literacy and ICT skills are top-notch! 

Afterwards, the group visited the Saints Club shop with Study Centre manager Pete Austen and senior mentor Vicky Campkin. They completed a numeracy activity around the shop’s items, budgeting, merchandising and sales.

Double Club pupils had also taken part in the usual weekly Multi-skills sessions before they came on the visit, so had been very busy all in all! University of Northampton student Emily Percival and Cobblers Study Centre mentor Jo Morris also joined today’s activities. A big thanks to the coaches and study centre staff at the Saints who made this such an enjoyable and educational visit.

For more on the Saints Study Centre, visit their website: www.saintsstudycentre.org

For more on Saints Rugby Club, visit their website: http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/

While Beccy Roseman was away on retreat with 6th formers, Anna, Helena and Jo from Northants Study Centres took the Double Club group. After a very cold multi-skills session with Graeme, (rolling rounders was muchos fun) they did some pitch measuring and worked out the areas and perimeters of various sports pitches.

They tried on the Saints rugby kit and took notes about the various items. Students asked questions around safety, materials, use, sponsorship and club colours. In ICT, they used this information to create colourful eye-catching adverts for sports equipment shops. There were some good ideas, with most people choosing to detail the rugby kit’s features and offer good ‘deals’.

Despite it raining heavily today, year 8 students still participated whole-heartedly in their multiskills practical lesson with Graeme Wilson. They did their co-ordination, teamwork, communication, quick reactions drills inside in the Double Club room. Everyone enjoyed this fast-paced lesson and there wasn’t a moment to stand still. All shapes and sizes of balls were used for the various activities. The class worked in pairs, small groups and in 2 teams for the final netball-handball inspired (?!) game.

Anna Letts and Jo Morris from Northants Study Centres assisted Beccy and her team of 6th form mentors in the literacy, numeracy and ICT lessons today. These included ‘Sporting Excuses’, interactive mental maths games (with dice, cards and counters) and ‘Cricket and the 5 senses’ in ICT. To see more on these activities, visit the Thomas Becket page and SOW download.

This second cohort of year 8s to do Double Club seem an enthusiastic bunch. They were creative and humorous in their writing and energetic in their maths. They told staff what they had been doing in previous weeks and what they had been learning. They also took to the ‘Whaa’ or ‘Cheese’ game immediately!

The second cohort of year 8 pupils began their Double Club experience at Thomas Becket with school youth worker Beccy Roseman leading sessions. Anna will be supporting her in some lessons, but this term the school are taking ownership of the project and adapting it as they see fit. 6th form volunteers will be assisting. Students will be doing multi skills with Graeme Wilson from NSport, as well as the usual literacy, numeracy and ICT actvities. They will be going on two educational visits to the Saints and Steelbacks Study Centres later in the term.

Next term, students in the Double Club will be doing ‘multiskills’ as their practical with Graeme Wilson from Northamptonshire Sport.  Over the 12 week block they will do the following ; SAQ, Dodging, general ball handing , throwing, catching, foot skills, Multiskills relays, tactical skills, Racket skills, striking skills, team games & creativity.

For an example activity plan, download here: multi-skills-session-planner