Background
This centre was opened on the 1st February 2007, and is the third of its type in the Telford area. It forms part of a network of 192 Playing for Success (PfS) centres across the country, whose aim is to use the motivational power of sports in conjunction with “state of the art” ICT facilities in order to raise literacy, numeracy and ICT standards amongst primary and secondary school pupils within their local area.
Benefits to the local community
The Centre offers a welcoming environment that lends itself to study support and seeks to involve both pupils, through PfS sessions and other activities, and their families, through open evenings and presentations. As explained below, this environment confers many benefits to the community.
Firstly, participating local schools benefit through the centre offering them a chance to build upon their existing relationships with AFC Telford United in order to offer pupils a leg-up in key curriculum areas. In addition, it also increases the school’s ability to offer out-of-school-hours learning provision, with the centre aiming to accommodate 400 children each year from up to 40 different schools within Telford & Wrekin.
Secondly, the specially designed curriculum benefits pupils from participating schools through providing opportunities for the pupils to raise their achievements and expectations, to realise greater scope within their learning and also take far more responsibility for their own development.
Finally, for businesses there is the chance to get involved in local education, through sponsoring the AFC Telford Utd. PfS initiative. In the process, sending out a clear message to the community that the specific business is serious about its environment and the community it is rooted within and also that it is keen to work within a framework that brings together businesses, schools, local families and parents in order to benefit all.
Other Activities
Local youngsters may also attend a very successful football project working on improving basic skills. Students from Key Stage 3 & 4 attend morning workshops at AFC Telford Study Centre before having coached football sessions at the indoor super dome at TCAT College. This project is re-engaging students to learn key skills in literacy, numeracy, ICT, Communication as well as motivating them using the power of sport.
TCAT college student use the facilities for ICT classes. Foundation Studies students attend 8 Hours of tuition by TCAT Lecturers.
Partnership work is also carried out with The Learning Innovation Centre. Projects such as the Junior Shropshire Star and AFC Telford Board Game will be held at the study centre.
Opening Times
09.00 to 20.00 during core PfS times
09.00 to 17.00 on other days-
Facilities
16 Networked Dell Computers
9 Wireless Laptops
1 Smart Board and Data Projector
10 Digital Blue Cameras
1 Digital Camera
Useful Links for more information:
DfES PfS: www.dfes.gov.uk/playingforsuccess/
Football Foundation: http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/welcome