Game On!

Posted at 4:03 pm on 23rd February, 2022

Here at Flixton Schools Girls (FGS) we are always looking for innovative ways to improve our student’s outcomes by eradicating inequalities. As part of this ethos we are very pleased to again be participating in the Football Association (FA) Girls’ Football School Partnership - supported by Barclays and Youth Sport Trust.

‘Game On’ is a continuation of a national programme which commenced last year as the ‘Game of our Own’ programme, supporting girls to be empowered to lead football-related activity for others. This nationwide scheme aims to create mainstream football in schools for all girls; by creating a network of 300 school partnerships by 2024. With the continuation of this programme there is no let-up of motivation to develop innovative ways to deliver football for girls, improving participation from their very first experience, creating an active and confident generation of inspired female footballers, coaches, officials, leaders, activists and marketers.

With investment from Barclays girls will have the best chance to experience football in the PE curriculum, as well as the opportunity to participate, lead and compete – giving them equal access to our much-loved national game as most boys currently enjoy.

Our ten year 9 students who are participating in ‘Game On’ also take part in the Girls’ Football Youth Sport Award, a reward and celebration scheme which helps to evidence their life skills learning and achievements through football. The Award also helps them understand the skills they’ve learnt and how they can transfer them to wider life.

All ten girls will have the opportunity to learn delivery and/or marketing skills and apply these to a FGS National School Sport week football event to the whole of our year 7 cohort, as well as assisting Ms Statham with primary football festivals ensuring football skills are developed early. These opportunities provide both the team and participating learners with experience of peer to peer learning, led, delivered and supported by girls.

The virtual national launch event was a huge success with #Flixtonteam joining sporting mentors including inline skater Jenna Downing and former professional tennis player Jade Windley, for a series of programme introductions and activities. Inspirational speakers included Kelly Smith MBE and Faye White MBE both former English and Arsenal footballer players, Janine Beckie Manchester City and England Olympic gold medalist, Rachel Brown former Everton and England goalkeeper and Sue Smith former footballer who played 93 times for England. It was lovely to see Jenna again as she has already inspired our student’s way back in 2017, as a guest speaker for our annual Sports Awards event.

The team were able to live chat and the school had their twitter post shown during the live coaching session. Our girls were so impressed to get a shout out during the event.

Our team of delivery coaches and marketers now begin their additional after school coaching sessions with Ms Callaghan, Head of Physical Education who will assist the team tasks and how to coordinate their delivery of a whole school year 7 event during summer term.

Ms Callaghan, commented, ‘The GO Activators were so excited to attend the National Live Launch.  Throughout the session they demonstrated creativity, teamwork and effective communication.  All being valuable life skills they will use in the future.  We cannot wait to continue with this programme and put all the great resources, clothing and equipment to good use.’

Great start everyone, keep up the momentum and we look forward to seeing your activities later this term.