>> Richard Drew - Director of Sport Biddenham Upper School
>> Gary Wright - Biddenham Upper School
>> Stuart Moore - Participant on the first course
>> Ray Stock - Frontiers Club Coordinator
>> Sandra Birnie - Stratton Upper School
>> Verity Edwards - Bunyan Upper School
>> Dave Sansom - Woodside Middle School

>> John Kane - Hastingsbury Upper School
>> Paul Johnson - FP Impact Regional Director

VIDEO
>> Pete Rattu - Sharnbrook Upper School

 

Richard Drew

“Recent educational research has identified a positive relationship between peer led learning, self-esteem and motivation. Since our designation as a Specialist Sports College in September 03 we have been keen to help develop our students through the links with sport and the roles of coaching and leadership.

Energize has given us the opportunity to identify students from a range of backgrounds some very successful in terms of educational outcomes whilst others on the verge of failure in terms of life in school. By taking them through a structured and organised scheme that is delivered in a safe and supportive environment the Energize team have been able to enthuse and motivate young people in ways no other school based work has done.

We have now completed three mentoring courses and have three planned for this summer. Our students have gained a confidence and an ability to work with each other and students from other schools that has come as a direct result of the course. “Tony” is an example of the true worth of this initiative, unhappy in school not accepting of the traditional PE curriculum and generally on a downward path in self-esteem and confidence he undertook the course with some persuasion. He became a fantastic leader; enjoyed working with year 7's and must ask me every week when the next course is.

In short I have no hesitation in recommending the Energize Peer Mentoring Course and will continue to support and run schemes as part of the Sports Colleges targets to improve leadership skills and self esteem.”

Richard Drew - Director of Sport and Assistant Head-teacher
Biddenham Upper School & Specialist Sports College

top of page >>

Gary Wright

“The sports Peer Mentoring Course had a marked impact on both year groups that took part. Our year 12’s developed leadership skills whilst working with the year 10’s who in turn showed a marked change in attitude as a result of being trusted to deliver a tournament as ambassadors of the school. The combined delivery of the tournament was declared a unanimous success by all involved…There have subsequently been significant spin-offs where students have utilised skills developed on the course in other aspects of school life…”

Gary Wright - Biddenham Upper School

top of page >>

Stuart Moore

“Being part of this scheme was a great experience for me. I gained communication, organisation and leadership skills to name but a few. What will stick with me most is the way that we helped others to become more confident with sport and coaching and were also able to see the young people we coached enjoy themselves so much”.

Stuart Moore - Participant on the first course

top of page >>

Ray Stock

“Thank you very much for your contribution to the Frontiers Club Autumn programme. I anticipate running sports mentoring again in the summer term in conjunction with Biddenham Upper School”.

Ray Stock, Frontiers Club Coordinator

top of page >>

Sandra Birnie

Over the two days students worked purposefully together, never having had contact before. The Year 10 students were selected from the Alternative Curriculum and the Year 12 were volunteers.

There was a wonderful sense of corporate responsibility for the success of the training and the eventual performance. Ideas flowed and the confidence of the Year 10 students soared as their contributions were listened to and valued. The students took ownership of the project and were empowered by the responsibility, improvising scripts, props and staging to make the project a success.

The challenge remains to create time in the working week for the project to expand from the original group to produce a finished product, and may necessitate off timetable allocation to make it work. I thoroughly enjoyed the training and it was a joy to observe students take the opportunity to succeed!

Sandra Birnie First recipient of experiential based facilitator training. Stratton Upper School

top of page >>

Verity Edwards

“The students took ownership of the course, which was the main objective, allowing Gary to stand back and facilitate, only intervening where he felt it was necessary. They responded brilliantly to the challenge and on arrival at Beauchamp Middle School they took 32 Year 7 students in small groups to teach them the basics of the sport. Watching their interactions with the younger students was second to none and by lunch time the Year 7’s were ready to be teamed up for the Tournament….

After a super lunch on tiny tables and chairs they proceeded to set up the tournament. Each team consisted of 2 John Bunyan Students and 5 Beauchamp Students, although the John Bunyan Students decided they should not be allowed to score! All of the students had a role to play from Referee to Lines-person; Manager to Photographer and all of them performed their role with total professionalism. Credit must go to all Students involved as they have developed and grown over this short time, paving the way for more courses like this to run in the future!”

Verity Edwards, School Sports Coordinator, Bunyan Upper School

top of page >>

Dave Sansom

On the 18th May Woodside’s students were lucky enough to be involved in a whole afternoon of sports activities run by Energize and students from Mark Rutherford. The afternoon consisted of three activities; a penalty shoot out, tag rugby and tennis. The year 8 students had a wonderful time and responded very well to the calm, mature and responsible approach of the Mark Rutherford Year 10 and Year 12 students. The Energize delegates were well organised, efficient and demonstrated good qualities of leadership, clearly a result of the week’s work with the Energize company. This is the second time we have been involved with such a mentoring scheme and feel it has proven itself as a worthwhile venture; helping with pupil confidence, student transfer to upper school and PE skills. We would recommend it to anyone and are extremely grateful to Energize and the pupils of Mark Rutherford for their excellent work.

Dave Sansom, Head of PE, Woodside Middle School

top of page >>

John Kane

Energize Solutions has provided our peer mentors with the understanding and enthusiasm to carry this project forwards.  Students left the training feeling inspired and excited about the work ahead. 

John Kane, Assistant Head, Hastingsbury Upper School

top of page >>

FP Impact

We’re enormously grateful to Gary Richardson and the Energise Team for helping us to prepare our teams for their short-term experience overseas. We had been faced with the some-what daunting task of preparing several teams to do children’s and youth-work on their European summer trips. That’s when Gary and the team stepped in to run a preparatory training session for our teams.

The session was interactive, fast-paced and highly entertaining. Our students visibly grew in confidence to deliver creative children’s and youth activities. The session was well planned and resourced throughout.

Many thanks to Gary and the team.

Paul Johnson FP-Impact Training, National Director

top of page >>

Peter Rattu