Playing for Success

Oldham Athletic Playing for Success Centre

The Laticzone was established in 2003, as part of the second roll out extension of Playing for Success centres (see www.dcsf.gov.uk/playingforsuccess ). The centre is located at Boundary Park, home of Oldham Athletic AFC and is equipped with a range of cutting edge IT equipment. The centre uses the medium and environment of football to deliver 8 x 2 hour sessions of study support to local primary and secondary schools, per week. The centre opens between 3pm and 7 pm Monday – Thursday and students attend for a 10 week course. We work with 12 Oldham schools per year, with over 360 pupils attending the centre.

Schools are identified through EIC data relating to key stage performance indicators and deprivation indicators. The schools identified as EIC schools are invited to attend the Laticzone. Primary schools have been identified through The Education Action Zones and EiC primary extension. Within schools, students are identified according to a number of criteria. At Key Stage two, it is pupils in year 5 and 6 that are borderline level 3 /4 at the end of KS 2 in literacy and numeracy. Pupils in years 7-9 are identified as those that are borderline level 4/5 in literacy and numeracy.

Children take part in a range of activities, player interviews, literacy and numeracy stadium tours, healthy eating challenge, football fitness challenge, as well as animation workshops. Schools receive ‘half time scores’ for pupils that attend the centre, giving a progress reports on pupils achievements and progress. Parents are invited to a Presentation Evening at the end of the 10 week session, where certificates are handed out by OAFC players and VIPS from the local authority. Playing for Success has had very positive responses from pupils, parents and schools.

Headline data for the Academic year 2004/2005 What did pupils think?

95.5% of the pupils that attended Laticzone through the academic year 2004/2005 rated the provision as ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
88% of all pupils felt more self confident as a result of attending Laticzone.
Value added scores for both literacy and numeracy for primary pupils was 31% and secondary was 21% as a result of the 10 week intervention programme.
Average attendance rates over the academic year were 77% for secondary and 88.5% for primary.
In relation to IT, the most significant improvements are a 400% increase in the number of students that can open a Word document, 90% increase in the number of students that can ‘add special effects in imovie’ and 80% improvement in the number of students that can ‘add titles in imovie.’

What did parents think?

95.5% of parents rated Laticzone as a ‘good’ or ‘very good experience’ for their child.
97.5% of parents saw an improvement in their child’s attitude to learning.
94% of parents saw an improvement in their child’s self esteem.
One parent commented that Laticzone is an, ‘Excellent opportunity to improve children’s confidence and improve their lateral thinking about education and learning.’

What did the schools say?

“As always, gives pupils a fantastic opportunity to access ICT at an incredible level.”
“I have really noticed a change in the groups self esteem and confidence.”

Visit our website: www.laticzone.org.uk, for further information please contact: Victoria Catton/Petra Wilcockson.

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