The Spring Term has begun in earnest at the Study Centre now with a variety of programmes taking place this term involving lots of schools within Northamptonshire.

Playing for Success evening programmes have begun with pupils from The Academy, The Abbey Primary School, East Hunsbury Primary School, St. James Primary School, Woodvale Primary School, Standens Barn Primary School, Ecton Brook (both sites) Primary School and St. Andrews Primary School all enjoying their Induction Weeks last week.

As well as our regular PfS programmes we are also running lots of daytime programmes which are requested by schools;

Two Transition Programmes for Thomas Becket Year 7’s (five weeks each cohort)

Gifted and Talented Maths Programme with Sir Christopher Hatton School.

Two three day Science based G and T programme with Wrenn School Wellingborough.

A DSP project with Guilsborough Secondary School (one day a week for five weeks).

Six Barclaycard Reward Days with Six Primary and Secondary Schools in thew County.

Match Day Family Learning Experiences with schools across the county at all Saints Home Games.

A busy term is in store!! If you or your school would like to find out more about “bespoke” programmes for schools, please contact the Centre Manager, Peter Austen on 01604 599152.

The Saints Study Centre has just finished a busy term of Study Support for the schools across Northampton through its “Playing for Success” programme. This is a Government sponsored initiative begun six years ago at the Saints Study Centre. Using the medium of sport, the centre concentrates on improving Literacy, Numeracy and ICT, with Key Skills, Self Esteem and Motivation featuring in most of the eight – nine week programme of activities. Playing for success sits firmly within the Government’s push on raising standards.

Activities included; Circus skills; Shakespeare workshop; Behind the scenes Stadium Tour of Franklins Gardens; Player Interviews; Use of ICT programmes including Photostory, Powerpoint, Word, and Publisher; Team Building Games; Practical Tag Rugby Sessions and Christmas Card Making.

Schools attending Playing for Success in the evening this term were:

Abbeyfield SecondarySchool

Thomas Becket R.C. Secondary School

Kings Heath Primary School

St. James CE Primary School

Castle Primary School

Spring Lane Primary School

St. Mary’s R.C.Primary School

Boothville Primary School

Attendance at the Study Centre is well over 90% by all young learners this term. Each term the Study Centre awards the school with the “top attendance” with a trophy. This term it was Boothville Primary with attendance figures of 97.8%. 

In addition to these activities the Study Centre has been operating during the daytime for various schools who have asked for Study Support for a variety of reasons.

 Thomas Beckett Transition Programme.

The Barclaycard Reward Days – Over 250 children have benefited from the sponsorship provided by Barclaycard.

The Duston School Transition Programme.

Pupils and parents from the Playing for Success programme, Thomas Becketts ‘s daytime programme  attended the Presentation evening at  Franklins Gardens on Thursday 3^rd December  to celebrate their success. Over 400 people were in attendance to watch the pupils receive their certificates and “goody bags” (provided by the Saints community Department) from Saints British Lion Euan Murray, Saints Player of the Year Paul Diggin and  Bernie the Mascot.

Centre Manager, Peter Austen gave a brief talk to the audience about the benefits of Circus skills in improving learning as a brain gym activity. Children were then asked to come out to the front and perform their new found skills. They also gave the audience a group performance of their Circus Skills.

A great time was had by all as the players stayed behind after the formal presentation to sign certificates, T shirts and anything else that could be found by the thrilled audience (parents and children alike).

Any school interested in finding out how the Study Centre can create a programme of activities for a group of students should contact either Pete Austen (Study Centre Manager) or Jeanette Campkin (Centre Co-ordinator) on 01604 599152.

Today was the last day at the Study Centre for the Wrenn Year 9’s – aah!!

After arriving at the Centre bright and early this morning, the students were excited to hear that the morning’s activity was a Circus Skills workshop with the County Jester, Kevin Burke. Once Kevin had demonstrated the variety of skills available, ranging from juggling, to plate spinning, to the Diablo, the pupils were instructed to practise their newly learnt skills to show off in a  performance in front of each other at the end of the session. Kevin along with the other mentors were very impressed at how quickly the skills were perfected, especially plate spinning, Wrenn School now holds the record for the most plate spinners in one workshop! The morning was finished off by creating a comic strip about the circus skills workshop.

There was a sense of anticipation in the air during lunch time as the afternoon held a huge treat for the students… Regardt Dreyer and Brett Sharmann were visiting the centre for player interviews! Even though the group were extremely excited, they conducted themselves perfectly for the players and all involved thoroughly enjoyed themselves! The students then created player profiles on the answers they were given.

All in all, the group have had a brilliant four days at the Centre! Many thanks to Olly Bland and Rosie Crutchley from Wrenn Sixth Form for organising the program with the Study Centre. Also thanks must go to Steph Brennan and Zoe Dreyer for their hard work in mentoring the students during their time at the Study Centre.

Pete Austen, the Centre Manager was very complimentary about the students commitment and hard work during the four days at the Saints Study Centre. “The work the students have produced during their time at the centre has been excellent and the school notice boards will have a new look to them in the new term,which begins on Monday”.

Day 3 at the Study Centre, and the young learners  from Wrenn School had another action packed day. They started with doing Maths Is Fun with Sarah Mason, which included games such as Frog, Cricket and Prison Dilemma. These games involved various different communication, tactical and team working skills. The day then continued after drinks and biscuits by taking part in a bit of retail therapy in the Saints Shop.  

After lunch, the young learners headed out to the back pitches to take part in another TAG Rugby session with one of the Community Coaches, Liam. The young learners took part in games such as, Tag, Kicking Tennis, TAG Rugby and the game Gauntlet from the Gladiator series.

Back in the Study Centre, the young learners continued with updating their newsletters and had a visit from Communications Manager, Chris Wearmouth, who helped the young learners edit their newsletter to be just as professional as the match day programmes!

Overall, a very enjoyable day for the young learners and everyone in the Study Centre.

” Today was a very exciting and a once in a life time experience with some brilliant ac tivities in particular the Maths is fun session ” says Dale Kightley.

“Today has been fun! The Maths is fun was FUN!  We played games and practised our tackling in the Rugby session

On day 2 , the young learners spent the morning using the Robolab software allied to building buggies with lego. Robolab is a fun experience for the young learners. It teaches them how to program a lego robot and give it commands that it has to follow. At the end of the session they raced all the robots. Just before and after lunch the young learners did a photostory of their time at the Saints study centre so far.   

After lunch the young learners had a fun team games session in the Captain’s bar. To win the games they had to use team work and communication skills. At the end of the day the young learners continued their newsletter from day 1.

” The Robolab was the best bit because you are able to work in groups that you don’t normally work in at school”- Lewis Holt.

“Team games was the best bit because we all worked as a team and won”- Jamie Pryke.         

 ”Robolab was brilliant because i enjoy making models and racing them.” -Niall McVean

 Over the October half term, 14 students from Wrenn School are taking part in the Autumn Half Term Project.

 On day 1, the young learners had the opportunity to have their individual and group photos taken and design them into a name badge. They then went on to go behind the scenes at Franklin’s Gardens with a stadium tour from one of the Study Centre Mentors. During the tour, they were quizzed on the history of the Saints and answered questions to try and win a rugby ball the first team have trained with. Back in the Study Centre, the young learners designed “postcards” about their stadium tour.

After lunch, the young leaners went out onto the back pitches with a Community Coach, David, and took part in a kicking session. The final activity involved the young learners beginning to write a newsletter based on the days events, which they will continue to update throughout the week.

It was a great first day, here are some comments from the young learners.

“The experience today has been one of a kind and I really hope I can have another one”- Lewis Holt

“I loved the day, my favourite part was the stadium tour”-Firat Aydin

“I had a really good day, especially in the practical session”- Tam Luu

Parents and pupils from Whitehills Primary School enjoyed a matchday experience on Saturday.

The day included;

Working together on a name badge for parent and child

Interviewing two Saints players  about their lives in and out of rugby and completing a “Player Profile” on the players.

A practical tag rugby session with the Community Coaches.

A matchday programme

Two tickets to the Saints v Sale Guiness Premiership match.

It was very appropriate that the Whitehills pupils and parents came to this particular match as Ben Cohen, a past pupil of the school and ex Saints hero, was making his first appearance at the club since he left two years ago. Ben was on the left wing for Sale!

A great day was had by everyone. Here are some of the comments made by the young people who attended;

” It was a lovely day and I didn’t want it to end!” says Georgia Harper.

Callum Holmes said excitedly, ” Fantastic day, Thankyou!. All of us were mad very welcome-Come on you Saints!!

 Georgina Kent commented, ” I have enjoyed this day and I will never forget it! I want to come here again!”