Sport puts pupils in the fast lane

NOT many learning centres can boast almost a 100 per cent approval rating from their pupils. But Oldham’s Playing for Success centres not only boost achievements by over a quarter, but have youngsters clamouring to go back.

Janice Barker spoke to a young fan about how he loves learning through football and cricket.

Deven Kara has an infectious smile, boundless enthusiasm, and talks ten to the dozen about why he loves staying on after school or giving up his summer holidays to study.

The 12-year-old is a regular at the Playing for Success centre at the Laticszone, a state-of-the-art learning centre at Boundary Park.

The Hathershaw School pupil has been attending Playing for Success since he was selected to go as part of a gifted and talented group from Coppice Junior School’s year 5.

The main attraction is the imac computer he can have exclusive use of while he is there — Deven doesn’t have internet access at home.

He’s also attended the PfS centre at Werneth Cricket Club, which has its own TV studio, and with other pupils has recorded news reports, written news stories about rumours that Ronaldo is leaving Manchester United.

The DVD now has pride of place in his Record of Achievement.

What he loves is getting to use the imac computer while he is there, and making new friends.

He said: “I enjoy the practical things like making T-shirts or using new software on the computer.

“It’s boosted my IT skills, and I can use Excel and spreadsheets, and we made an animated film about the Jules Rimet (World Cup) trophy being stolen.

Deven is obviously bright, but his mum Virbai Kara (37) says it has improved his confidence and helped him to mix with children from a variety of backgrounds.

She said: “He is a bright boy, but his mind is a bit of a sponge and he needs to keep occupied and learning new things.

“He has made new friends with a mix of people he would not have met at his primary school.

“It has made him a lot more confident in speaking to children from different backgrounds, and at secondary school he interacts with everybody.”

Pupils are selected to go to Playing for Success for a wide range of reasons, according to centre manager Victoria Catton.

She explained: “The focus is on literacy and numeracy through football or cricket.

“Some pupils are the naughty ones, or some who just get overlooked.

“But all pupils get a test on entry which show areas where they may need help, and we do a similar test at the end.

“During the six weeks we send a half- time report to schools.

“It is great to see pupils making headway in terms of literacy and numeracy.

“In such a short time you can see them improve and their attitudes improve.

“And primaries who contact us afterwards say the children who have been here have outperformed their peers in SATs tests.”

The aim is to use sport, such as football and cricket, to engage young people, then get them to learn without realising it.

Tasks include working out the size of the Latics pitch, calculating the speed of a cricket ball delivery at Werneth, interviewing and writing about Latics stars and making films and DVDs.

Victoria added: “Deven is just so positive and has a really positive impact on other children. He loves learning, but not in a geeky way.

“He is not afraid to get on with work and to learn, and he shows some children that it is OK to feel that way. He is a really good role model.”

In the last academic year, 2007/8, the PfS leaving tests for literacy and numeracy for secondary school pupils showed an average gain of 28 per cent, up from 19 per cent last year.

Average attendance at both centres was 82 per cent for primary school pupils and 92 per cent for secondaries.

Not bad when the children have to attend from 3.15 to 6. 45pm for six weeks.

And 97 per cent of them rate the Laticzone as good or very good, while 98 per cent of the Werneth centre users thought their sessions had a positive impact on their literacy skills.

Schools praise the centres for being well run with friendly staff and where students are keen to go back every week.

And 95 per cent of parents say the centres have a positive impact on their children’s attitude to learning.

One said: “I enjoyed visiting as a parent and would love to do a course myself. Brilliant.”