Ackworth School Outreach Programme

Ackworth School provides opportunities for all of its local state schools. It offers free table tennis and tennis coaching for a minimum of 6 weeks to each school. Currently, there are around 30 schools involved in the programme. Inter-school competitions are held as well as opportunities for children to take up both sports outside of school. 

Aims

What are the aims of the case study or partnership?

To work with local schools, providing opportunities that they wouldn’t have had without the programme. 

What was the identified need?

Offering opportunity for children from the local area to participate in these sports.

What are the critical factors for success?

Schools willingness and generosity to provide the coaches to go into schools and the local primary schools willing to work with us and bringing children to events. 

Who are the immediate beneficiaries and those in the wider community?

Children in the primary schools and teachers. Improving local schools knowledge of how to teach tennis and table tennis. 

Background

How did the case study or partnership come about?

Table Tennis England set up a programme with Ackworth School, and to grow it we identified the need to visit the primary schools. The Headmaster wanted us to offer the programme to schools at no cost. 

Who identified the opportunity and how?

The Headmaster wanted Ackworth School to work with the local schools and offer the opportunity for them to participate. 

How long has it been established?

6 years 

Resources

What resources are critical to the success of the case study or partnership?

Table tennis equipment, sports equipment (all taken with our coach), ideally use of school dining tables for tables to use. 

Does it use school facilities?

We use indoor and outdoor facilities of the local schools as well as Ackworth School's facilities for external sessions and for completions. 

Does it use teaching or non-teaching staff?

We have a designated table tennis coach and qualified teacher - ideally class teachers get involved from the school but can often be TA’s not teachers working with us.

How many and for how long?

Table tennis a half term or term per school - their choice, generally a term per school, two classes per half term which each get 45 minutes to an hour.

Is there a financial contribution?

No

Impact

Is there any qualitative or quantitative assessment of the benefits of the activity?

Previously we have reported the number of schools visited, number of children, how many weeks, etc. Feedback forms are also provided for class teachers and children to comment on the sessions. 

How often is the assessment carried out?

It is verbally done at the end of the visit. 

Pupil Involvement

To what extent are pupils involved from the independent school and from other participants?

During competitions they will compete against the other schools. 

How old are the pupils?

Mainly under 11.

What gender are they, if relevant?

Mixed
 

Frequency

Is this activity a single event or on-going?

Ongoing

What is the frequency?

A term per school for table tennis. A half term per school for tennis.

For how long is it likely to continue?

For the foreseeable future - both Ackworth School and our local schools see a great deal of benefit from the activities.