PRIMARY school children from Ashton-under-Lyne got to put what they had learned in the classroom into practice as they reported on a live football match.
A total of 35 pupils from Hurst Knoll St James’ Church of England and Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC got their pens ready to deliver their verdicts on the recent Ashton United v Bamber Bridge Northern Premier League clash.
Notes were taken furiously during the 2-2 draw and match reports, which will be published by the club, will be produced.
The experience at the Hurst Cross ground was the culmination of an extensive project in the town run by the Literacy Kicks schools programme in partnership with Ashton United in the Community, Smallshaw Hurst Children’s Community and Save the Children, with the help of a grant from the Trident Foundation, a charity linked to league sponsors Pitching In.
More than 250 children from four primary and secondary schools in Ashton have completed six-week programmes with sports journalist Gareth Walker – the man behind Literacy Kicks – where they learnt various reporting skills to enhance their reading and writing.
They were able to put them into use at Ashton United, who provided each child with a hot meal, snacks and keepsakes from the match.
At full-time the home players spent time with the pupils signing autographs at the side of the pitch.
Alison Wiles, Year Five teacher at Hurst Knoll Primary said: “The whole Literacy Kicks programme has been brilliant from start to finish.
“Gareth came into our class and immediately engaged the children with his knowledge, passion and love for what he does.
“The children loved learning how to write for different purposes relating to sport, and then the experience of being able to apply this in a real life situation was a memory I know they will treasure.
“The support at the Ashton United match was excellent. The organisation, goody bags, reporter note pads, pens – and hot dogs at half-time – encouraged even the most reluctant writers to pick up their pencils to take notes at all the key moments in the match.
“They are excited to turn these into an actual match report.
“A huge thanks to all concerned, and also to the players who came over to sign autographs at the final whistle. It’s been a really positive experience.”
Connor Docherty, Year Six teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, added: “The club was phenomenal with the children and made us all feel incredibly welcome.
“All of the children had a brilliant time and the players coming over to sign the children’s notepads after the game really was amazing to see.
“We can’t thank everyone enough and hopefully we will get more children attending matches in future.
“Gareth did an outstanding job with the children and it has been a pleasure to see him promote a love of writing through sport.
“I have had so many reluctant writers, particularly boys, really push themselves and grow in confidence with their writing, which has also carried through into my own English lessons.
“The experience has been invaluable for our students.”
Gareth, a former Daily Mirror rugby league correspondent who founded Literacy Kicks, said: “It was an absolutely brilliant afternoon at Ashton United that brought to a fitting end to what has been a fantastic initiative to be involved in.
“The children that attended the match were a credit to both schools and the staff generously gave up their Saturday afternoons to oversee the visit.
“Many of the children had never been to a live sporting event before and were immersed in what was a cracking game full of incidents for them to report on.
“They will now use the skills they have developed over six weeks of Literacy Kicks lessons and write reports that the club will publish through its match day programme and website.
“Sport is such a powerful tool for engaging children in reading and writing.
“One of our partners Save the Children has been compiling data on the impact of this programme on literacy enjoyment as well as aspirations, and the initial findings have been hugely positive.
“Hopefully it’s something we can repeat in the town again in the future.”