School of Football for schoolchildren

School of Football for schoolchildren

Aberdeen FC Community Trust is delighted to be running an exciting new programme for school pupils at Northfield Academy. School of Football is a project aimed at developing the social and academic skills of young people. The initiative is designed on the basis that the pupils will learn many new skills that will be developed while working in a football environment which can then be transferred to school work and social situations.

School of Football also aims to improve the attendance of school pupils as well as developing them into positive role models in the school community.

Through participatory budgeting from Northfield Total Place, pupils at Northfield Academy took part in 4-5 different projects that had the potential to be introduced in the school. The pupils were then given the opportunity to vote for the project they wanted and School of Football was chosen.

Liam Duncan, Scottish FA Club Development Officer said “AFCCT is delighted to be working with the school and more than happy that this project was chosen. There is a chance to make a real impact on these pupils and Northfield Academy is a school that wants to progress and do well.”

It is hoped that in time the project will be introduced to more schools across the city.

Laura Westland, Assistant Community Coach for AFCCT is based at Northfield Academy for the School of Football sessions. “Encouraging school pupils to become active is so important, regular exercise provides many health benefits, especially for teenagers who are still growing. It can also help their academic skills, pupils who exercise are more likely to be alert and motivated. We will be proactively engaging with the pupils with the wider community involvement opportunities with AFCCT as well as helping to enhance their attainment, confidence and self-esteem.”

Northfield Academy Head Teacher, Neil Hendry said” We are very excited that the School of Football programme which further develops our existing partnership with Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust. This work uses football as the vehicle to improve the life skills of all the pupils involved. The aim is not to produce the next Graeme Shinnie but to produce young people who have all the life skills to be successful citizens in the 21st century.”

The programme involves the pupils taking part in one session every day, each with four main aspects that will be focused on throughout. Technical, tactical, physical and mental all things important in making a successful player. The pupils will also work on nutrition and how to become a role model not only within the school but in the community, working on them as a person as well as a player.

Councillor Angela Taylor, Convener of the Education and Children’s Services committee said “This is a great joint initiative between Northfield Academy and Aberdeen FC Community Trust. The social skills that the pupils will acquire through the project will stand them in good stead both in the classroom and in the wider community.”