Last week saw the beginning of the evening sessions for the children attending the Playing for Success programme. The course began with player interviews of the Saints first team and Academy players. A number of players gave up their time to come to the Study Centre to be interviewed by many enthusiastic young people. Two mock press conferences took place each evening, which allowed each child to ask the players a number of questions. The players included: Sean Lamont; Robbie Kydd; Karl Rudzki; Jon Vickers; Joe Gray; Courtney Lawes; Matt Lord; Damien Browne; Chris Budgen; James Downey; James Cannon and Alex Rae.Following the interview the children completed a Player Profile using Microsoft PowerPoint. This involved inserting a picture of their chosen player and a number of key facts about him. A title and a colourful background were then added to make a fantastic piece of work that they could then take home to show to their parents and teachers.

The children had a fantastic time and thoroughly enjoyed trying out their interviewing skills. Our thanks go to all the players who made this wonderful experience possible.

Peter Austen has been on the radio twice in the last few weeks, waxing lyrical about the students who attend the sessions at the Study Centre.

Here is a link to his latest offering, an excellent interview on BBC Northampton’s Afternoon Show.

SUMMER CHALLENGE HAS BEEN IN FULL SWING AT THE SAINTS STUDY CENTRE

The Saints Study Centre Summer Challenge has been in full swing. Children from Kings Heath, Lyncrest, Spring Lane, The Arbours and St James Primary Schools have been spending four days at the Study Centre enjoying a variety of activities aimed at improving their numeracy, literacy and ICT skills as well as raising their self esteem.

The four-day programme included the ‘Club Challenge’ in which they took over their favourite sports club buying players, designing a new stadium, choosing a team manager and designing their own home and away kits using Origami designs amongst other activities whilst working with a partner.

On the second day the children were given problem solving activities in teams. They then visited the Saints Rugby Store for a maths activity. After lunch Danes Camp Leisure Centre hosted the school groups for swimming.

The third day was spent at Brixworth Country Park for more team building activities and orienteering.

During the final day at the Study Centre the children built drag racers from Lego kits, programmed their ‘buggies’ to perform various tasks using Robolab software. In the afternoon the group used ‘Photo Story’, a piece of software which enabled them to produce a review of their time at the Study Centre.

“Feedback from parents and pupils has been very positive, demonstrating the benefit of the programme that the students have been following,” said Saints Study Centre manager Pete Austen. “This is the third year of the Summer Challenge. It is going from strength to strength, helping to raise standards in schools with the children working extremely hard during all the activities. They are a credit to their schools.”

The whole Summer Challenge is funded by the Northampton Town Learning Partnership and the Excellence Cluster.

Presentation Evening - July 2007

At the Presentation Evening tonight some of the Playing for Success students got the chance to perform for five of the Saints First Team players … and about 200 other spectators!

Presentation Juggling

Click on the photo below to have a closer look at some of this year’s photos.