24th June 2015
Sports studies students from Barking & Dagenham College have rolled up their sleeves to plan and host a two-day festival of sport for over 200 school children from Rush Green Primary School.
Two days of sports competitions and challenges
The school children, who are aged between 5 to 11, enjoyed a wide range of sports competitions and challenges during the two-day event, from the traditional egg and spoon race through to a specially designed assault course, all of which had been laid out on the playing fields at the College’s spacious Rush Green Campus.
Real work experienceCiaran Rodway, 19, from Ilford who is studying for a BTEC Extended Diploma in Sports Studies explained why he was keen to get involved. He said:
“This real work project is part of our course and as well as making sure that all the children have a great time, it’s also given me an opportunity to find out what it’s like to work as a team and independently. I took on the role of Publicity Officer for the project and whilst it has been great fun, I have also learnt so much.”
Win-winErrol Parker, Curriculum Manager for Sports, Leisure and Public Services at the College explained the thinking behind the students taking the lead, saying:
“We are delighted to offer our facilities to local schools and we have hosted a sports event for Rush Green Primary School for this last 14 years. It is a great opportunity for our sports studies students to plan and deliver the event as a course assignment. Our students get real work experience and our local primary school gets a fantastic sports event – it’s a win-win.”
"Well organised"Jenny Summerfield, Year 1 Group Leader, at Rush Green Primary School added:
“The Barking & Dagenham College students were fabulous and produced a very well organised event. The students were really helping to encourage our pupils to cheer each other on and were quick to help those who were struggling. It was a really lovely event.”