Impact Statement

Brighton College Prep School (BCPS) continues to work with its state primary school partners and has assumed the role of leaders and organisers of football for affiliated primary schools in the Brighton and Hove District. There are currently 40 schools involved in this football project.

Mr xxx is the lead player in this endeavour and he has taken the role of secretary in the Brighton & Hove District FA under the auspices of the English Schools’ FA.
BCPS organises and hosts football tournaments aimed at pupils in years 5 and 6: for the larger Brighton & Hove schools, involving 24 schools and up to 240 children (predominantly boys); for girls in all our primary schools, involving 24 schools and up to 240 girls; for the smaller schools in the district, involving nine schools and up to 90 children (predominantly boys.

This year BCPS has increased further its involvement with local partners by organising and providing pupils in years 3 and 4 with opportunities in football. Three tournaments are planned for these children and the aim is to involve up to 20 local schools. So far we have hosted one tournament for boys and girls aged 6-8 years and seven schools have taken part. Two more tournaments are planned for this school year.

BCPS organises, by planning and administering, four football leagues for primary school boys (girls are allowed to take part). 30 schools have taken part in these leagues which took place between September and December 2018. It is estimated that 330 children will have benefitted from this in the Brighton & Hove district. BCPS also provides facilities for these matches, which is vital to some of our inner-city schools who do not have access to playing fields or 3G pitches.

BCPS organises, by planning and administering, four football cup competitions for primary school boys (girls are allowed to take part). 36 schools are taking part in these competitions which operate between January and April 2019. I would estimate that 400 children will benefit from this in the Brighton & Hove district. BCPS also provides facilities for these matches, which is vital to some of our inner-city schools who do not have access to playing fields or 3G pitches.

A relatively new venture was the introduction of organised girls' leagues and cups, something that just did not take place in our network of primary school partners until we instigated this in 2018. We, and our partners, are thrilled that girls’ football has quickly achieved a near equal footing with boys’ football in our district. Our aim is to continue this development to cement the place of girls' football in primary schools. It is very unlikely that this development would have taken place as quickly or efficiently without the involvement of BCPS.

BCPS organises, by planning and administering, three football league competitions for primary school girls. Last year, the inaugural year, only 12 schools took part. This year, the number has grown significantly and 26 schools are taking part in these competitions which operate between March and June 2019. It is estimated that up to 320 girls will benefit from this in the Brighton & Hove district. BCPS also provides facilities for these matches, which is vital to some of our inner-city schools who do not have access to playing fields or 3G pitches.

BCPS organises, by planning and administering, three football cup competitions for primary school girls. This is the first year we have set up these competitions and 24 schools are taking part in this first year. The cups will also operate between March and June 2019. It is estimated that up to 300 girls will benefit from this in the Brighton & Hove district. BCPS also provides facilities for these matches, which is vital to some of our inner-city schools who do not have access to playing fields or 3G pitches.

BCPS, through our sports leader Mr Herbert, organises, administers and leads the elite football for primary schools in the Brighton & Hove District. This entails the selection of children from schools in the area to join the Brighton Schools Boys’ Representative Squad and the Brighton Schools Girls’ Representative Squad. There are currently 19 boys and 19 girls from our primary schools in these squads. The development of girls’ football began in 2017-2018 and there was no such involvement for girls before this time. It was an aim of BCPS for this to be created and develop and we are pleased to say there is now an U12 girls’ squad running as well as a new U11 squad. Both squads play matches throughout the South-East of England.

BCPS hosts the home matches for these squads and provides catering and facilities for these matches. These are played regularly on Saturday mornings from October to April each year. BCPS also provides transport for away matches. BCPS also provides facilities and staff to organise trials for these squads in July and September each year, involving up to 140 children. The children in these squads are provided with the opportunity to play at a higher level and fulfil their potential. A number of these children have gone on to play for professional football clubs including: Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion and England), Grant Hall (Queens Park Rangers), Charlie Gilmour (Arsenal), Isaac Christie Davis (Liverpool) Glen Rea (Luton Town) and our only girl, Naomi Cole (Chelsea and Millwall). This is just a selection of notable successes.

In October 2018, BCPS facilitated an INSET for primary school teachers which developed their skills in coaching football. This was run by a member of the English Schools' FA.