JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER
STUDENTS VISIT UNIVERSITY SCIENCE LABS Students from Croesyceiliog and King Henry VIII cohorts were provided with a unique opportunity recently with a visit to the University of South Wales in Treforest. The trip to the campus was arranged to provide the current year 12 Football Education Performance learners an experience of what life could be like as a sports student in higher education. Having seen the facilities on offer and taking part in some physiology investigations, namely VO2 Max testing and also using the hydrodensitometry tank, it provided the learners with an insight into what they could be doing after finishing the course. Not only was this a fantastic experience for the learners but tutor Adam Harrison it has had a positive effect on the group. He stated, “I believe it will motivate them to achieve higher levels in the remaining units of the course to
ensure that they meet the entry requirements to gain a place in university.” He added, “From a teachers view it was great to see the way the boys engaged within the sessions and it was pleasing to see the learners answering tough questions demonstrating that learning had taken place throughout the year.” Here are some pictures of the learners participating:
JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER
FIRST YEAR SUCCESS FOR THE PROGRAMME We spoke to the tutor for both King Henry VIII and Croesyceiliog cohorts, Adam Harrison, about how he thinks the first year of the programme has progressed. How has the first year of the programme gone?
What are you looking forward to teaching next year?
It’s gone well! The biggest thing for the learners has been going from a school environment onto this course they quickly realised how independent they need to be. It’s not about me handing them all the information and telling them exactly what they need to do. I can give them skeleton notes but they have developed their own research skills and have learnt to read around the subject.
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the Performance Analysis module. Again that’s another more practical module and it’s a key area. Every sport uses performance analysis so they are bound to find it interesting. Even though it’s a tough area I’m looking forward to the psychology aspects. It’s a side of sport that many of the learners wouldn’t have even considered before. It’ll be interesting to see how they react to a new topic.
They’ve got used to not being provided with all the answers. It’s definitely been a positive experience for them. It has given them the grounding to not only progress onto the second year but also for University studies.
Have you had a particular highlight this year?
I think the leaners have enjoyed the variety in modules and the ten different topics we have covered. I think the workload was more than many of them would have realised and I think there have been many aspects of sport that they would never have thought about before. All of our learners have stayed on the course and it shows how much they are enjoying it and seeing the benefits.
I wouldn’t say there has been one particular highlight but it’s been interesting to see how they’ve all developed as the year has gone on. Their writing has improved, they have become more independent and it has been really satisfying to see.
What have the learners got to look forward to in their second year?
The learners have also visited the University of South Wales and viewed the sports science labs. They had the chance to go into the big hydrodensitometry tanks and do testing in there. It was extremely beneficial to their studies but also gave them an insight into the areas that they can work in if they carry on working hard and achieve the grades they are capable of getting. It’s a great motivation for them.
Next year we start to look more at nutrition, sports psychology and more practical units. They will learn more about team situations and then they will cover a work experience module. Each learner will find a placement for two weeks and really experience a working sport environment and have a chance to get hands on, which is key. The learners will be organising more sports events next year and I think as a whole the second year will have a more practical feel. The has been a lot of written stuff this year and I think next year it’ll provide them with a great chance to apply it all.
The learners have run a couple of tournaments, assisted competitions, refereed games, collated scores, organised fixtures and got involved with every part of running a sports event day. That was great to see.
Are many of the students planning on progressing to University? There are a large number planning to go to University and they are all on track to achieve the grades they need. If the learners keep working as hard as they have then there is no reason why they cannot go onto to University, the following year.
JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER
THE FIRST YEAR HIGHLIGHTS Here we will take you back to a couple of events from earlier in the year that our FPC students took part in. HALF TIME CHALLENGE AT BURNLEY FIXTURE Back in November, as the rain poured down at Cardiff City Stadium, Cowbridge Comprehensive’s Declan Jenkins and James Reevers took to the field to participate in Cardiff City’s half time entertainment. It was Road Safety Week and a Stop, Look & Listen obstacle course, promoting road safety education whilst also testing the awareness, composure and ability of the contestants was set up. They certainly had their work cut out in the driving rain as, using hi-vis jackets as blindfolds, they had to dribble the ball through a series of cones, whilst listening to their dedicated guides for assistance. By the end of the first stage, Declan had stormed into the lead, making light work of the dribbling challenge. Both contestants then awaited instructions from our halftime host, Huw Day, before aiming for different corners of the net, now a good twenty yards out from goal. Sound easy? Well, the challenge was made more difficult by a moving defensive wall, which truly tested their free-kick technique. Declan and James had to stop and compose themselves, look to examine the defensive wall ahead of them and listen for their instructions, before taking a shot at goal. While James’s effort whistled wide of the post, Declan’s low drive flew past the wall and went in off the woodwork resulting in a clear winner this week, as Declan took home the spoils!
STUDENT RUN SPORTS DAY A SUCCESS Students from King Henry VIII and Croesyceiliog have been busy running a football and netball tournament for Primary School children as part of their BTEC course. Adam Harrison took us through what the day consisted of. Adam explained, “King Henry VIII School have organised an inter-school competition with both football and netball going on. The learners are helping to run all of the day’s events. We have boys running the lines, refereeing and keeping score. It means the students get to experience lots of different aspects of how to run a tournament or big event.” “The tournament had teams from Cantref, Deri View, Gilwern, Llanfoist and Llantillio Pertholey Primary Schools. They have all benefitted from the hard work of the BTEC students. The learners themselves also took a lot from the experience which they can use as part of their studies.” “There are two reasons why this is great for the students. One is that they have to complete units where they have to show that they can organise events and also that they can officiate games where they can show they can apply all the correct rules and regulations. These are both part of their assessments.” “Also, in two years’ time these learners could be in positions where they will be running this type of event as part of their jobs depending on what career paths they choose to pursue. If they do choose that route, then this experience will be invaluable for them.”
JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER
CARDIFF CITY FPC CUP ROUND UP To cap off a successful season in the Cardiff City Football Education Performance Centre the teams met in a cup tournament. The four teams took part in a two-legged semi-final with the two winners progressing to the final in July. These are the scores from the semi-finals: Wednesday 8th June (First Leg) Aberdare Community School 4-1 Cowbridge Comprehensive Cardiff City Foundation 5-0 Croesyceiliog/ King Henry VIII Wednesday 22nd June Cowbridge Comprehensive 1-5 Aberdare Community School Croesyceiliog/ King Henry VIII 7-0 Cardiff City Foundation Aggregate scores Cowbridge Comprehensive 2-9 Aberdare Community School Croesyceiliog/ King Henry VIII 7-5 Cardiff City Foundation The final will take place on Wednesday 6th July and will see Aberdare meet Croesyceiliog/ King Henry VIII.
WHAT THEY’VE SAID… Here is some of the feedback from the course from the people who deliver it and the learners themselves.
THE TUTORS Joel Hutton (Cowbridge) – “The learners have shown great commitment to the course across all the sites. First and foremost, this is an education programme and they have been working hard in the classroom.” Adam Harrison (King Henry VIII/ Croesyceiliog) – “There has definitely been an effect on some of the younger pupils in the school. The learners are there with their Cardiff City kit on and other students look up to them. They look smart and naturally they draw positive attention from the rest of the school. I’ve spoken to the Heads of the school and they say the same thing. The course has no doubt had a positive effect on the school as a whole.” Mr Haggett (Aberdare) – “We make sure that what we are doing in the practical side of it coincides with what goes on in the classroom. The leaners pick up on things so quickly and I’ve seen such a difference in even from the first few months.”
LEARNERS Youssef Maohoub (Aberdare) – “I think people have a tendency to look down on a BTEC but my cousin did a BTEC in Public Services and he’s in University now. This course in particular has a great vibe to it and we are a team now. I want to go to University and do sports coaching so this course has definitely benefitted me.” David Lewis (Aberdare) – “When we were training before you never thought about components like resting heart rate and aspects like that. Now the more I train the more I understand my body, how I’m developing and how the body works.” Sam Rashdi (King Henry VIII) – “You can apply what you are doing in the classroom to what you are doing on the pitch. It really helps gaining this knowledge in the lesson and using it on the football field.” Jack McGonnigle (King Henry VIII) – “It’s pretty cool wearing the Cardiff City badge because people stop and stare and ask if you play for Cardiff.”
JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER
CARDIFF CITY NEWS Bluebirds Fixtures Released The 46 league fixtures for the upcoming season have been released and City will their campaign underway on the road. Their first match will take place at St Andrews on Saturday 6th August against Birmingham City. Here are some of the other standout ties: HOME COMFORTS
ASTON VILLA AWAY
After kicking-off the season on the road, City will be back home for a CCS double header, as we take on QPR on Saturday, 13th August, before Blackburn Rovers visit the Welsh capital just three days later.
Villa Park is one of a number of historic grounds that travelling Bluebirds will be looking forward to visiting this season.
A FIRST-TIME TIE On Saturday, 1st October, the Bluebirds will compete against Burton Albion for the first ever time in league action, after Nigel Clough’s men earned promotion from League One with a second place finish last time out. City have, however, encountered the Brewers in the League Cup, with goals from Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and a Ross McCormack brace sealing a 4-1 Cup win in 2010.
THE SEVERNSIDE DERBY City were unbeaten in the Severnside Derby last season, with Lex Immers and Stuart O’Keefe scoring in a 2-0 win at Ashton Gate last time out. The rivalry is rekindled on Saturday, 15th October, with the Robins visiting CCS at 3pm for another derby-day clash.
A TRIP TO ST JAMES’ On Saturday, 5th November, the Bluebirds travel to the North East to face Newcastle for the first time since our Premier League season in 2013/14. We suffered defeat in the League that year, although late goals from Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell secured a 2-1 St James’ Park win in the FA Cup.
Our first trip there since February 2014 also falls in the month of November, with City travelling to the midlands on Saturday, 26th.
BOXING DAY Pack your turkey sandwiches – we’re away from home on Boxing Day again. This time, we’ve got a trip along the M4 to Griffin Park, as Paul Trollope’s men take on Brentford.
NEW YEAR’S EVE As the fixture list dictates this year, if you’re away on Boxing Day then you’re away on New Year’s Eve too. It’s another interesting match-up for City as we play out 2016 against Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX.
THE LAST HOME GAME While City are away from home on the final day, our last home match is a big one! We welcome Newcastle United to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 29th April.
THE FINAL DAY It will come around quicker than you think! City’s last game of the 2016/17 season is away to Huddersfield Town. A Peter Whittingham master-class settled the points in our last trip to face the Terriers – it could be a crucial encounter this time around as we travel to the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday, 7th May.
JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER CARDIFF CITY GOAL OF THE MONTH AWARD
YOUTUBE VIDEO
Aberdare’s Youseff Maohoub has been nominated for the Cardiff City’s Club Goal of the Season award for his inventive bicycle kick earlier this season.
If you want to find out more about this unique programme you can watch the Football Performance Centre’s prospectus video on YouTube.
The striker scored in a 1-0 win over Cowbridge in their opening game of the Football Education Performance Centre season. The strike has been nominated alongside eight other goals. Let Cardiff City know which goal you picked on Social Media (Facebook & Twitter) using #ClubGOTS for a chance to win a signed 2016/17 Cardiff City adidas home shirt. Watch all of the efforts by following this link Voting closes on Friday 1st July, 12:00pm
Programme Coach - Ben Slade, TVS Education Programme Manager – Chris Saunders and the students themselves provide an insight into what it’s like to be a part of the programme. The four-minute video will tell you all you need to know about this unique course from the technical aspects, the practical parts and all the perks of learning with a professional football club. To watch the video follow this link Or Type Football Performance Centre Prospectus into the YouTube search bar.
WEBSITE AND TWITTER With the launch of this new course there is also a new website to keep you up to date. The website www.cardiffcityfepc.com is now live and you can keep track of results, match reports, news and check out the player profiles. Our Twitter is also now up and running. @ccfc_fepc will keep you up to date with website content, scores and things to do with the programme. Get following now! If you think you have something that is worthy of making next terms newsletter send your suggestions to tom.phillips@tvseducation.com
Contact the school Aberdare Community School E-Mail: school@aberdareschool.co.uk Tel: 01685 888500 Twitter: @AberdareSchool
King Henry VIII Comprehensive School E-Mail: info@khs.schoolsedu.org.uk Tel: 01873 735 373
Croesyceiliog School E-Mail: head,croesyceiliogcomp@torfaen.gov.uk Tel: 01633 645 900 Twitter: @CroesySchool