SCL Definition

Definition of a school club link

What is a school club link?

There have been a number of definitions of a school club link in recent years by various agencies. Three have been selected to help to give a broader understanding as to the character and nature of a high quality school club link.

1. According to the 2006 PESSCL (PE, School Sports Club Links) survey support document:

A school has links with a club when pupils are actively guided towards club activities, either in a quality assurance setting at the club itself, or on school premises. Activities on the school premises would include regular coaching sessions and out-of-hours clubs organised by the clubs coaches, but would not include one-off taster sessions.

2. The document High Quality PE and Sport for Young People states that a school club link is effective when young people are enabled to make the most of their experiences in both settings, feel comfortable in a club and, as a result, are more likely to continue participating once they leave school and enable young people to try out new sports.

3. The subsequent guidance document entitled School Club Links a guide to recognising and achieving effective links between schools and sports clubs by the Dept of Culture Media and Sport and Dept for Education and Skills, in association with Sport England, the Youth Sport Trust and the Qualifications Curriculum Authority goes on to formalise this by stating:

A school club link is an agreement between a school or a school sports partnership and a community based sports club to work together to:

1) Meet the needs of all young people, whether they want to be involved:

a. As an elite sports performer

b. To enjoy sport and develop their skills

c. For social or recreational reasons

d. To maintain and develop their fitness

e. As a young leader or coach

f. As a club official

2) Provide new and varied opportunities for young people

3) Help young people realise their ambitions in sport and dance by providing them with pathways to follow

4) Agree good standard of provision and put in place quality controls, and club and school developments, to ensure that standards remain high.

From these definitions, the following central statement can be drawn:

A school club link gives young people the opportunity to participate in worthwhile sporting / physical activities beyond the school day and in activities that can continue throughout their lives.