Press Release
Day in the life: Active Schools Co-ordinator
James Johnston has been an Active Schools Co-ordinator for six years. He works within the council’s Sport and Leisure Service as part of a team made up of five Co-ordinators and the Active Schools Manager.
Between them they cover all the schools in Shetland and also work with sports clubs and leisure centres, delivering projects that inspire an active lifestyle through sport and physical activity. Over the last six years the job has evolved from concentrating on school aged children towards using sport and physical activity to support healthy lifestyles for all ages.
James gives an account of a typical day:
“I really enjoy the variety in my job, every day is different. This morning it was cycle training at Tingwall Primary School.
At this time of year we are visiting schools to deliver the Scottish Cycle Training programme. This is for all Primary 6 pupils, (or P7’s in composite classes). Each child develops their cycle skills over six sessions and studies the theory element with their teachers.
This is always really popular with the kids as they get to improve their bike handling skills and build their confidence in the playground before taking to the road. The ability to ride a bike confidently and safely really opens up their freedom to travel to meet and play with friends over the summer holidays.
Then it was back to the office to catch up on some work relating to the Shetland Sports Strategy. We have been working on this over the past few months, in partnership with Sportscotland, PE, Schools, NHS and Shetland Recreational Trust.
The strategy will set out ways for people in Shetland to realise their potential through sport. It hopes to inspire and motivated people into sport and deliver on a number of key priority areas including facilities, club sport, school sport and so on.
We have been out recently consulting with sporting groups, associations and the wider public and the Active Schools Co-ordinators were asked to meet with head teachers to gather information to inform the strategy. We are aiming to launch it by the end of the year.
Another task I need to complete today is to report back to the Scottish Football Association on statistics for their Bank of Scotland Soccer One initiative. This was a scheme designed to invest in secondary schools football, providing funding for equipment, transport and venue hire as well as discounted coaching courses.
Last month we held the final of our football championship over three days in the Clickimin Leisure Centre. This was the climax of a competition that started in November last year with teams from all over Shetland taking part.
The Soccer One initiative has been very successful in creating secondary school teams across Shetland and the growth in the number of girls playing has been particularly positive. We’ve been able to make links with the Shetland Women’s Football team for those girls who want to take the sport further.
In the afternoon I was off to Scalloway again to support the new Sport Leaders I have been training. These are a group of three Bridges students who have been taking part in a 26 hour course where I take them through a level 1 award in Sports Leadership. This is a nationally recognised qualification from Sport Leadership UK. The Bridges Project supports young school leavers from 15-19 through a number of activities and allows them to explore and develop a variety of social skills. As part of their final assessment they have to lead a P.E lesson and volunteer with sports groups and Active Schools.
Back in the office I contacted schools to gather feedback on the recent National Schools Sports Week. This involved them registering for a pack sponsored by the Bank of Scotland offering a range of ideas to develop a sports week in their school. As part of this, our team contacted Island Games athletes who visited schools to show their medals and do some coaching with the pupils. It is important for kids to be able to meet local role models who can then inspire them into sport and following the tremendous success of the Shetland team at the Natwest Island Games on the Isle of Wight we will be looking to involve more athletes and grow the National School Sports Week in 2012.
With the school holidays underway, all the Active Schools Co-ordinators are gearing up for a busy summer of activities. We have employed two summer sport coaches who will be helping us deliver the summer holiday programme which includes activities for primary and secondary children in various locations all over Shetland. The menu includes windsurfing, football, netball, rugby, clay-pigeon shooting, mountain biking and golf among other things. There is also the Tall Ships of course and we are involved in planning sports events and activities for visiting crew including Tug of War and a football tournament.”
There are over 200 activities, events an excursions happening across the length and breadth of the islands in July and August. For information on activities available in your area please check the :
Summer Holiday Activities Programme 2011
or call Active Schools on 01595 744 006.
To find out more about the Active Schools team click here.