Sports Leadership

We offer our students an extensive sports leadership and volunteering programme through the Merton School Sports Partnership Leadership Academy. Schools within the partnership provide their students with the opportunity to be involved in the programme from Year 5 through to further education.

Leadership

Key Stage 2 (Year 5/6) Leadership Academy

During the Autumn term most of the Merton primary schools begin to deliver their Year 5 Leadership Academies. Leaders will initially learn how to deliver a multi skills festival for Key Stage 1 and Lower Key Stage 2 pupils within their school.  The 90 minute hour introductory workshop will be delivered to all Year 5 pupils by our team (with support from the class teacher). Following the training, leaders should be confident to deliver a Key Stage 1 or Lower Key Stage 2 multi skills festival with their teacher’s support.

The introductory session will consist of discussions about which personality traits make a good leader, and how this can be can applied as a sports leader. The class will then talk about the importance of being organised, teamwork and strong communication skills. Finally, the class will practice playing and leading a range of activities stations, that will make up their multi-skills festivals.

Schools will take then leaders through a six-lesson leadership unit where the students will learn all about health and safety, setting up multi skills activities, managing a group of children and encouraging participation. Once the Year 5 leaders have completed the training they are then able to deliver lunchtime activities such as Change for Life clubs to the Key Stage 1 pupils (with support from the school staff).

All leaders who complete the 6-week programme have the opportunity to build voluntary hours by assisting in a range of activities. They can do this through leading playground activities; assisting at after school clubs and helping with the organisation and delivery of their school sports day.

Leaders are rewarded for volunteering by achieving either a Bronze (3hrs), Silver (6hrs) or Gold (9hrs) Leadership Certificate. Certificates are supplied by the partnership at the request of the school.

Sports Leaders Inspiration Days (2023/2024)

MSSP staff have been delivering Sports Leaders Inspiration Days at 8 selected schools from the East of the Borough. We have worked throughout the day training 60 young leaders (Year 5s) to develop their leadership and communication skills. This has involved specific sessions for the leaders personal development in the morning after which they have supported the delivery of team building games and inclusive sports such as Boccia to younger children in the afternoon. Teachers and TA’s worked alongside the MSSP staff as part of their own development via our peer mentoring. The leaders will now set up active lunchtime sessions which they will continue to deliver throughout the year, encouraging participation from less active children to help them discover the fun in being physically active.  

By focusing on new activities that are more inclusive and promote team work, personal/individual progress and social interaction/cooperation, all children will learn new valuable skills and be able to enjoy being active, enhancing their mental health and wellbeing.  

• MSSP developed a full resource pack to be left with schools to ensure the activities are embedded across the school in the long term.
• 1-hour pre-meeting with PE Co/SLT to plan the day and the long term changes to lunch times etc to sustain impact for all.
• Equipment bag given to schools to ensure the activities can continue to be delivered after the day.

“Thank you for coming in. The children loved it!” – (Ms Rodrigues – Liberty PE Lead)

The children and teachers absolutely loved the Inspiration Day . It was super fun, engaging and inspiring.” – (Ms Bennett – Malmesbury PE Lead)

“The opportunity to take on a leadership responsibility really brought out a nurturing side in some children that can struggle to self-regulate or struggle socially” (Ms Cox – Abbotsbury Assistant Headteacher/Inclusion)

The 8 selected schools last year were: Abbotsbury, Haslemere, Liberty, Malmesbury, Morden,  St. Mark’s, St. Thomas of Canterbury, The Sherwood.

Volunteering

Work Experience

We know how important it is for our young people to get experience in the world of work as they chose their path in life. At the partnership we provide work experience placements for young people that attend a school within the London Borough of Merton. Due to a high demand, applicants will only be considered if they have previously volunteered at a partnership event or if they are part of the MSSP Leadership Academy. During their time with MSSP, the students will gain experience in various sporting capacities such as sports coaching, event organisation/delivery and sports leadership.

Please see our Work Experience and Internship page for further information and opportunities.

Sports Internships

The partnership provides a brilliant opportunity for some real grass roots development experience within school sport. Each academic year we recruit up to two new sports enthusiasts to join our team and provide sporting opportunities to the London Borough of Merton’s school children.

Please see our Careers page for further information and opportunities.