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Rugby training sessions with Darras Hall

Newcastle School for Boys (NSB) and Darras Hall Primary (DHP) school have built a sporting partnership based around sharing expertise on rugby coaching and playing methods. Coaches from NSB delivered a half-day of rugby training games and sessions, easily replicated to a year group of DHP children. Those who had shown a particular interest or aptitude for the sport then came along to a rugby club at NSB in the summer term, refining and honing their skills and understanding of the sport in a supporting and welcoming environment.

Aims

  • To encourage enjoyment of rugby amongst children
  • To embed importing sporting skills of creativity, awareness, resilience, decision-making and self-organisation.
  • Children from NSB and DHP were the immediate beneficiaries of these sessions, whilst also DHP teachers and parents were able to witness the teaching of some of these core values.

Background

External partnership built between NSB and DHP as two primary schools in the area.

Meeting between DHP and NSB staff discussing areas for development within the DHP sporting framework currently.

This partnership has been ongoing now for 18 months.

Resources

  • Rugby resources critical to the success
  • Staffing by NSB staff to provide these opportunities.
  • NSB Senior school facilities used, as were hire facilities at Druid Park.

Impact

  • Children from both schools engaged in rugby activities across the year.
  • Gifted rugby players from half-day session invited to after-school club at NSB Senior site. This ran for most of the summer term.
  • Children’s rugby ability improved.
  • Children’s social skills between schools grew.

Pupil Involvement

  • 90 DHP Year 4 children attended the half-day session.
  • 20 DHP Year 4 children weekly in summer term.
  • 15 NSB Years 5 and 6 boys involved.

Frequency

  • One single half-day event, to be repeated yearly.
  • Weekly after-school sessions for the summer term, repeated yearly.