Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) have been running a Raising the Bar programme alongside the University of Greenwich to raise students aspirations to go to university. The programme was run over the course of ten weeks ending with a trip to the University of Greenwich.
Carol Duffy, PE Teacher at St. Paul's Academy in Abbey Wood said "Following participation in CACT's 'Raising the Bar' programme over the course of the last few months, a group of our Year 10 V Cert Sport students were given the opportunity to attend a trip to the University of Greenwich, Medway Campus."
"During their visit students were able to gain insight into the university's Sports Science course, speak with current students about their university experience as well as engage in practical sports science workshops and fitness testing."
"Being afforded such an opportunity has been a fantastic and invaluable experience for our students. It has enabled them to experience third level education first hand and as a result helped to raise their own personal aspirations and levels of motivation."
"Students were able to put the theory they have been learning as a result of their own current course of study into practice which has made their learning much more relevant and vocational based."
"This is fantastic to see and an experience that I as a teacher am very grateful that my students have been afforded. Such experiences simply illustrate the significant impact that extended learning opportunities beyond the realms of the classroom can have for students."
The day was a success with student Jesil, 14 saying "I hadn’t thought much about university before today but after this trip I definitely want to go to university and would like to become a physiotherapist."
Raising the Bar was developed by CACT, the Fulham F.C. Foundation, the University of Greenwich and Kingston University to encourage students to apply to university and raise their aspirations.
The Premier League Enterprise Programme has been delivered over 10 weeks since January in St. Paul's Academy in Abbey Wood and Corelli College in Shooters Hill to selected students who were underachieving or at risk of underachieving.