OAKBANK PUPILS LEAD THE WAY AS THEY STEP INTO SPORT 

Over the last five years Oakbank has been initiating leadershipand volunteering across all year groups using the Step into Sport Programme.  The programme as provided pupils with opportunities and experiences that have raised their confidence and self esteem, encouraged them to interact with younger pupils and their peers, and have allowed them to develop skills that they can transfer from a sporting situation to other parts of every day life.
The Step into Sport Programme involves:
Step One - Sport Education
During PE lessons pupils learn to plan, organise and lead parts of or all of their PE sessions.  The teacher takes on more of a facilitating role and pupils are encouraged to adopt the role of a coach, leader, official, administrator and manager as well as a player/performer.
Step Two - Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership (JSLA)
In year 10 pupils can opt to do this award in core PE.  The award is designed to up skill young people in planning, organising and delivering activities as well as developing personal skills such as communication and time management.  This academic year approximately 90 pupils have opted to do the course.  ALready many of the JSLA pupils are proving to be very confident, enthusiastic and effective leaders.  They have had the opportunity to develop their leadership skills when working with primary school children.  In October a number of JSLA pupils assisted with the running of a Sports Hall Athletics event for year 6 pupils and in November a Multiskills Football Festival for year 2, 3 & 4 pupils.
Step Three - TOP Link
From our large cohort of JSLA pupils 4 are selected to attend a regional TOP Link Conference.  It is here that they build on leadership and management skills gained through the level 1 award.  It encourages the young leaders to organise and run festivals for primary or special school children.
Step Four - Level 2 Award in Community Sports Leadership (CSLA)
This academic year 8 of our year 12 students are completing the Level 2 award in Community Sports Leadership.  They give up 1 hour of their time to develop skills they have gained achieving the JSLA qualification.  By the end of this course students should be able to plan, organise  and run safe activities for other young people.
Step Five - Community Volunteering
Many of our sixth form students not only are players/performers in our local clubs but also give up valuable free time by volunteering in the clubs, taking on roles such as coaching, officiating, scoring and administration.  The Community Volunteering scheme allows students to collect 50,100,200 hours of volunteering and receive certification.  It also ensures that the clubs they are part of have the necessary structures in place to receive and support their volunteers.

In November eight Oakbank students attended a "Step into Sport' conference at South Leeds Stadium.  This conference introduced them to Step 5 of the programme and gave them the opportunity to gain qualifications that may be useful when volunteering, such as First Aid, Team Management, Football Bolt On and Multiskills.
At Oakbank we are very proud of our Sports Leaders. they are a real credit to themselves and the school.  Many give up much of their time to ensure that young people can participate in sporting activities, gaining more postitive experiences!