Mel Berry
Principal – Soar Valley College
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1280 students aged 11-16
Multi-ethnic, multi faith school.
2009 moved in to a new building as a part of
the Building Schools for the Future [ BSF ]
Programme.
Also we significantly developed the outdoor
environment and sports facilities.
We have a strong community focus and the
site / facilities have been developed with this
in mind.
BSF programme –
having a clear
vision as to what
we wanted to
achieve.
Ensuring facilities
relate to needs,
interests, local and
wider community
- open 7 days a
week.
Supportive
Governing
Body
Creating first
class facilities
Facilities
to inspire
and to
meet our
aspirations
.
Exploiting all
opportunities to
access additional
funding.
Working in
Partnership eg LCC,
Sport England,
national
organisations and
local leagues / clubs
Students –
Sports
Coordinators
Facilities
Coordinator –
first point of
contact.
Extended
Schools and SSC
– vital role in
providing
opportunities
and developing
links.
Capacity
Strong
business plans
for each
facility.
Excellent PE Department
– taught curriculum and
extra curricular
Business Manager –
contracts, links
with clubs and
community.
Developing
strong club
links
Providing them
with first class
facilities
Fully
inclusive
provision
Developing students
as Sports Leaders –
and giving wide
range of
opportunities to
demonstrate
leadership.
Links with clubs
and associations to
ensure progression
Experiences
and
opportunities
Exposure to local,
regional and national
competition and
events
Excellent range
of sports and
opportunities in
Years 7-11to
meet all needs
and interests.
Wide range of
extra curricular
activities and
opportunities
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Primary School Festivals – numerous.
Tesco Sport sessions – Primary students.
Visits from ‘world class’ athletes - eg rugby, cricket and
athletics; inspirational figures.
National, Regional and County teams using facilities.
Netball – excellent partnership, demonstrating what is
possible.
Visits to National teams / grounds – including Leicester
Tigers for a coaching session, Old Trafford.
Helping to host the Special Olympics.
Using sporting activities as a catalyst to develop literacy
skills.
14 Family Sports Festivals per year – some of which have fed
in to City competitions including the Youth Games to
represent the city regionally.
Post 16 – Club links and Umpiring
Club – Leicester
West. [ spotted
training with Year
9 team ]
Prit – Year
11 student
Duke of Edinburgh Award –
Archery as main sport / used
cricket as volunteer activity
Participating –
school; cricket,
badminton, frisbee,
county hockey.
Adult First Aid
Qualification
Self esteem
and
confidence
raised
significantly.
Volunteering –
Sports Leaders
Award.
V Cricket
Award.
Umpired County
Youth and
Primary schools.
Primary
School
Sports
Festivals
Youth
Games
D of E
Award
Scheme
Young Sport
Leaders Award
Personal
Sport.
Jasmin –
Year 10
Step into
Sport Leaders
Camp
Finalist in the Get Set to
make your mascot
design competition –
one of 2 finalists from
East Mids.
ADISTAR Young
Ambassador.
FA Junior Football
Leaders Award
Dance – 2 groups
Cricket – 5 teams including Leicestershire & Rutland.
Badminton – 2 teams
Hockey – 9 teams
Netball – England, Leicestershire Association,
Leicester[shire] Schools, Leicestershire Club League,
various teams.
Basketball – 3 teams
Trampolining Club
Table Tennis
Karate Club
Various Faith Groups – several very large sports events.
Football – 23 teams.
Orienteering
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Local, regional and national success at individual
and team level.
Very high participation rates in school sport.
Large number of teams and individuals in a wide
range of sports – male and female.
High number of trained First Aiders and Sports
Leaders supporting sport in the Primary schools,
own school and community.
National Sports Ambassador – chosen to carry
the Olympic Torch.
Lots of volunteers at events – Special Olympics,
Faith Groups, Primary Festivals etc etc.
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Olympic Torch Relay – inspirational figure of
Tommy Godwin.
Taj – official torchbearer and National Sports
Ambassador for England and British Colleges
Sport.
We are holding various special sporting
events to ‘celebrate’ the Olympics.
Achieved ‘Getset 2012 networking status for
our school plus 10 primary schools.
Year 10 – national finalist in design a Mascot
competition.
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Why not have international players and Olympians coming from
Leicester schools and Soar Valley College?
Valuing and giving opportunities to students who will become
the ‘unseen heroes’ in local and national sport – as referees,
coaches, administrators etc.
Ensuring high participation rates in a wide range of sports and
instilling a love for sport at any level.
Ensuring strong links with clubs and associations and
progression post 16.
Continuing to provide first class facilities and opportunities for
all of our students and the community.
Not to assume we have to lose any more top performing
students to institutions outside of Leicester.
Not just retaining - but building on the excellent infrastructure
we have across the city.
Aspire, enjoy and achieve !!