Sports Inspire Educational Publishing researches and writes schemes of work for Primary Schools, Years 5 and 6, based on the histories of sports clubs.
Cross-curricular with an emphasis on History and Literacy, the schemes link local and national events to the fortunes of the local club, bringing social history alive for the children.
The schemes have proved particularly effective in:
• motivating ‘less academic’ children
• forging links between schools and clubs
• developing enthusiasm for the local club among the next generation of supporters.
Fully resourced and referenced to the National Curriculum and Primary Framework, the schemes are economical on teacher preparation time and require no specialist knowledge of sport.
‘Absolutely stunning’ HEADTEACHER
A Unique Idea
These schemes are unique, using the expertise of experienced primary school teachers and of historians who specialise in sporting and social
history.
Everybody Wins
Schools receive a free, cross-curricular scheme of work that brings local history alive for their children. The powerful influence of sport and the local club has proved extremely motivating for many children, including a high percentage of less academic children.
Clubs have their histories taught to the next generation of supporters year-on-year, and strengthen their links with local schools.
Latest News
5th November 2010: Launch of Bradford City FC Scheme
The Scheme of Work for Bradford City Football Club was launched at Valley Parade on 5th November. Formal proceedings were introduced by Ian Ormondroyd, former player and now Bradford City’s Football in the Community Manager. He was followed by David Ward, MP for Bradford East, who was instrumental in setting up the scheme when he was based at the club as sports partnership manager for Leeds Metropolitan University. Brian Heywood of Sports Inspire then outlined the contents of the scheme.
Bradford City Football Club: attendees at the launch view the scheme
Left to right: Brian Heywood (author and founder of Sports Inspire); Allan Gilliver (former player); David Ward MP; Stuart McCall (former player and manager); current players Lewis Hunt and Shane Duff
What they said:
David Ward MP: “This is a superb way of learning and also of understanding something about the history of Bradford and the importance of the club to the district – and it works. This isn’t a theory – this actually works and there’s evidence of that. It’s difficult to really enthuse and to reach some kids in our schools. This scheme reaches the difficult to reach. Everybody benefits … the schools benefit because they have a fabulous teaching aid, the kids obviously benefit because they have something which will interest them as a more interesting way of learning as part of the National Curriculum. Bradford City gains because it enables young people across the district to learn that Bradford City is not just a football club, it is part of the rich heritage and culture of Bradford.”
Ian Ormondroyd (Bradford City Football in the Community Manager): “It is a great tool for the schools to use. They can dip in and out of it as it is obviously based on the National Curriculum.”
Stuart McCall (ex-player and manager): “It sounds terrific, it sounds like a great project. Hopefully everyone benefits, the kids, the schools and the club, because that’s what we want, to spread the word. When I was being interviewed I didn’t realise the scope of it, so I’m quite honoured to be involved in it.”
Allan Gilliver (ex-player): “I’m certain something like this can encourage a lot of the students. It’s a scheme which has obviously gone down well at other places and there’s no reason why it can’t in Bradford.”
Paula Helliwell (Bradford City Football in the Community): “It is a great scheme and has added much value to our heritage work.”
Phil Wagner (Bradford MDC Learning Services): “The project is a very positive one for Bradford schoolchildren. It gives them the chance to learn all about the history of their professional sports clubs and the cultural significance they have had for the development of the community. Once the project is officially launched we shall be taking it into primary schools to form part of the wider curriculum.”
22nd February 2011: Launch of Rotherham United FC ‘From Coal to Goal’ Scheme
The Rotherham United Football Club ‘From Coal to Goal’ scheme was launched at Rotherham Town Hall on 22nd February 2011. Formal proceedings were introduced by James Rawlinson of Rotherham United FC Community Sports Trust. Main speakers were: the Mayor of Rotherham, Rose McNeely; Councillor Ken Wyatt of the Heritage Lottery Committee; Rotherham United FC Chief Executive, Paul Douglas; and Brian Heywood, Director of Sports Inspire and author of the scheme.
Display stand from the Rotherham United ‘From Coal to Goal’ launch, and some of the 100 guests at the event
Focussing specifically on World War II and its aftermath, the scheme uses many visual and written resources from the Rotherham Advertiser from that period to tell the story of how World War II and its major events impacted on Rotherham and its football club. Most of the players at that time combined careers in professional football with coal-mining, which remained a government directed occupation until 1952. It was, nevertheless, one of Rotherham United’s most successful periods. As with all of Sports Inspire’s schemes, the activities use the power of sport as a springboard to enthuse children in cross-curricular learning, with local history at its core. The scheme has been financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
What they said:
James Rawlinson, Rotherham United Community Sports Trust: “This is a fantastic way for children to learn, and will hopefully generate interest in the club from future generations of supporters.”
Zanib Rasool, Rotherham United Community Sports Trust: ” We have been very impressed by the scheme that Sports Inspire has produced.”
Local primary school headteacher: “What a fantastic idea; a great way for children to learn about their town and their local club.”
The Bradford Bulls’ RLFC scheme was launched at Odsal Stadium on 4th March 2011. Formal proceedings were introduced by John Mason, trustee of the Bulls’ Community Foundation who also works on the club’s ‘Past Times’ heritage project, before Sports Inspire’s Brian Heywood outlined the contents of the scheme. Attendees included: Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South and former Minister for Sport; Sarah Bennison, a rugby league referee, Bulls supporter and interviewee in the scheme; and representantives from the community schemes of Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos. The scheme has been financed by Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
Children from Knowlwood Primary working on the theme ‘A Tour of Odsal Stadium’; scheme author Brian Heywood prior to the launch event
What they said:
John Downes, Bradford Bulls Community Foundation, and former headteacher: “I wish we had learned from resources like this when I was at school. I’d have done much better!”
Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South and former Sports Minister: “‘These schemes are truly cross-curricular. They have great potential for motivating under-achieving children and for inspiring the fans of the future.”
4th March 2011: Book Launch of In a League of Their Own: Cricket and Leisure in 20th Century Todmorden
Much of the information that inspired Sports Inspire Educational Publishing was published in book form on Friday 4th March 2011. In a League of Their Own: Cricket and Leisure in 20th Century Todmorden, co-written by Sports Inspire’s Brian Heywood and his parents, Freda and Malcolm, completes their social history of sport and leisure in Todmorden, which began with this book’s companion volume, Cloth Caps and Cricket Crazy: Todmorden and Cricket 1835-1896, published in 2004. Containing a wealth of humorous and poignant anecdotes whilst connecting local sport and leisure to events and developments in wider society, these volumes are unique as the most comprehensive local history of amateur sport and leisure ever written.
Authors Brian, Malcolm and Freda Heywood with the Mayor and Mayoress of Todmorden (left), and signing books (right)
