Loughborough College has been celebrating the latest achievements in the growing success of its pioneering School Sport Apprenticeship initiative.
The College was recently awarded Outstanding for its apprenticeships from Ofsted, with the education watchdog interested in highlighting CIS nationally after seeing the initiative in action.
Loughborough College trains apprentices to assist with lessons, lead lunchtime and after-school clubs, organize and deliver competitive sport and sports event and to develop community links.
With seventeen primary and secondary schools in Leicestershire and Rutland participating, the scheme has been praised for the impact the College’s apprentices are having on inspiring and motivating young people and for the opportunities it offers the apprentices themselves.
Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan has commented on how the quality and diversity of PE teaching is improved, “boosting children’s participation in sport, encouraging healthier lifestyles and inspiring confidence in young people” with the initiative, “also offering the opportunity of an apprenticeship and a chance to take the first steps towards a rewarding career.”
“Some schools have been so happy they have taken on two apprentices - and this year eight of our schools have given their apprentice a job,” said Jenny Sugarman, Workplace Learning Coordinator on the Elite Sport team at Loughborough College.
“Six apprentices have been offered positions, including with coaching companies, and five are going on to study for a degree.
“Our celebration event gave us the chance to mark the valuable contribution made by the 19 apprentices graduating from this year’s scheme.
“There was a certificate for each of them and we presented special awards for outstanding achievement.”
The Academic Achievement Award, presented by Head of Sport at Loughborough College Helen Van Aardt, saw Daniel Woods, Evie Crane and Matt Smedley highly commended and Charlotte Sparling announced as winner.
Ed Parker, Meet Lakdawala and Luke Scoble were highly commended in the Outstanding Development category with Ben Taylor presented with the overall award by College Chair of Governors Audrey Traynor.
After naming Evie Crane, Ed Parker and Charlotte Sparling as highly commended, Olivia Weston was named as winner of the Outstanding Coach Award by College Governor Stuart Lindeman.
Highly commended for the School Impact Award were Ben Taylor, Elliott Chambers and Charlotte Sparling with Matt Smedley announced as winner by Leicestershire County Councillor and Governor Jonathan Morgan while the Apprenticeship Spirit Award went to Margot Chawner and was presented by Leicestershire and Rutland Sport’s Geoff Maltby.
The overall 2016/17 Apprentice of the Year title was awarded to Evie Crane with Impact Apprenticeship’s Peta Fee making the presentation.
Stuart Lindeman closed the event with a tribute to the apprentice’s achievements, the excellent teaching which had been on display throughout the year and the significant impact the initiative continues to have across the counties.
Pictured (left to right): Loughborough College School Sport Apprenticeship 2017 Award winners (left to right) Margot Chawner, Matt Smedley, Evie Crane, Lottie Sparling, Ben Taylor and Olivia Weston