During this time they have participated in The FA School Club-Link pilot scheme, help found the Girls’Middle Schools league and more recently represented Suffolk at the National Futsal Youth Finals in Sheffield, where they reached the quarter final stage. Receiving Charter Standard recognition has provided a focus for the school’s football activities, which now boast curriculum football for boys and girls across years 5, 6, 7 and 8, with 280 (70%) of pupils participating in extra-curricular football, through A, B, and C fixtures. The school provides opportunities for talented players, reflected by success on the field during last season: the Year 5 boys were North Suffolk Cup winners and Suffolk FA Futsal Cup winners, not forgetting the Year 7/8 girls who won their league without conceding a single goal.
All this has raised the school’s profile with parents and staff. In February, nine members of staff attended an FA Futsal course, from which they have introduced Futsal as another Football opportunity for their pupils.
When asked what achievement he was most proud of during their time as a Charter School, Assistant Head Teacher and Director of Sport Andy Adcock replied: “It would have to be the way that girls’ football has grown within the school.We have built excellent links with local FA Charter Standard Club St Benet’s Wasps, who now field three girls’ teams. A partnership where the school provides pitches for their girls teams to play and the club provides support for our schools festivals with pre-festival coaching at feeder schools and also support on festival days.”
It will therefore come as no surprise that Beccles Middle were the first Suffolk School to submit an application to become a Focus School in 2008-09.
What is a quality School-Club link?
An example School-Club Link programme may look like:
Club support linked to Schools Sports Partnership festivals which then transfer into club-based activities.
To support a new team of Under-8 players:
1. Contact Suffolk FA Development team to see if your club is based in a target partnership (each year two Schools Sports Partnerships are prioritised for extra support).
2. Contact local Schools Sports Partnership and find out if there are any football festivals for your local schools at Year 2 (Under-8 next season) or Year 3 (Under-8 current season).
3. Having identified a festival, offer four weeks of after-school coaching to schools taking part in partnership festival.
4. Deliver after-school coaching. If no club coaches are available, contact Suffolk FA. It is possible that that our Community Coach can support your club with this.
5. Support Partnership festival, with a club venue, referees and supporting the school teams alongside sports leaders at the festival.
6. Invite each team to a free taster session at the club leading into an opportunity to play at the club.
7. Arrange regular coaching session for your new players.