Leeds Rhinos Foundation community staff returned to work in schools across Leeds this month bolstered by three new Active School Partnership Officers, meaning Leeds Rhinos’ official charity are now able to increase their delivery to over 100 schools.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation now employ 13 full time school partnership staff to work in school clusters across the city, providing high quality physical education provision and a valuable introduction to the fundamentals of movement, multi-sport and dance meeting the needs of the PE premium and the curriculum.
The charity’s schools programme has grown from 41 schools in September 2015 to 100 schools from the start of the academic year, with a further 30 schools also receiving dance and sport as part of a tailored package under the charity’s sports plan.
With new staff members Andrew Lawson and Daniel Speirs and Nicola, who will move across to the school partnership role from her dance development role, Leeds Rhinos Foundation will now work in three new school clusters in Pudsey, Chapel Allerton/Harehills and the Outer East Catholic cluster.
Gareth Cook, Leeds Rhinos Foundation Community Manager said: “We are delighted to add Dan and Andrew to our team, both have lots of coaching experience and have settled into our organisation really well. Bringing in two new clusters not only widens the Rhinos brand in the city but showcases further our active schools model.
“Nicola has also already worked with us over a two-year period and is a fantastic role model for young girls in the city as well as offering experience in other areas such as dance which will be valuable to the team at whole from a CPD point of view.”
The model allows school clusters the opportunity to come together from both primary and secondary schools to create a bespoke local model focusing on curriculum PE sessions within schools, enrichment opportunities after school, competitions and teacher CPD.
“Through our cluster model, working with Leeds Active Schools, Leeds Rhinos Foundation is now able to work with over 30,000 children a year who all receive regular and quality assured physical activity as part of their curriculum with a designated member of staff working in their area,” added Cook.
“The model not only guarantees consistently high-quality P.E and multi-sports provision but a chance for pupils to engage in more extra-curricular competition with other schools across their area and even the chance for staff to engage in CPD with our staff in areas such as multi-sport and dance. This year we will deliver over 100 schools competitions including; climbing, tag rugby, football, handball and netball as well as many more.”
Schools signed up under the cluster model also receive bespoke delivery offered by the charity, who last year delivered over 150 themed assemblies including Winning Team, Anti-bullying and Healthy Lifestyles assemblies. They also offer Leeds Rhinos Takeover Days, in association with Caddick and Cover Structure, which includes visits from club mascot Ronnie the Rhino followed by children visiting Headingley Carnegie Stadium for a matchday at a discounted price.
For more information on Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s work in schools email Gareth.cook@leedsrhinosfoundation.org