Schools Link Partnership

Many people are actively seeking links with schools in order to encourage juniors to take up the sport and to hopefully gain new members for their clubs. This can be done through linking up with schools in the area, participating in community school sports partnerships and supporting youth taking up bowls as an outside activity for GCSE Physical Education

Community Sports Partnerships

County Sports Partnerships exist in most parts of the county and information can be found on the County Sports Partnerships page.

Alternatively, contacting your local council sports and leisure department can link you into local initiatives.

GCSE Physical Education: bowls as an outside activity

Bowls is now recognised as an outside activity for GCSEs. To find out what you might have to support you are suggested to contact your local schools to enquire what Examination Board is used and ask for advice from the school as to what paperwork, monitoring and assessing may be required. The Club should liaise between Coaches and CPO/SO ensuring all involved on a regular basis are CRB cleared through the appropriate NGB channel at Enhanced Level

School Club Link

By linking up with schools and developing formal school club agreements, all involved are aware of expectations and commitments. It is also an avenue to develop opportunities for new clubs to start, or existing clubs to develop satellite clubs, using (if need be) school premises, thereby increasing use of facilities and opportunities for young people to participate in bowls. The aim of this agreement is to

• Promote junior participation in Bowls
• To provide appropriate opportunities for further development and participation for those young people who are interested
• To give the club the opportunity to promote its activities to potential new members
• To optimise the provision of coaching expertise and leadership in the Sport of Bowls at school and club level

There are usually 3 levels of School Club link. Details of these are given below, and a specimen form of agreement is available here.

School Club Links: Agreement Level 1

• Communication 2 or 3 times per year, e.g. flyer, poster, assembly, etc
• A signed agreement between the club and school
• At the end of the agreed period a review of the activity will take place including monitoring and evaluation

Club Requirements

The club should have

• A duty of care and child protection policy
• Adequate public liability insurance: this should be covered by the club’s insurance and/or school insurance
• Affiliation to the relevant NGB
• All Coaches and volunteers working with young people should
  • Be DBS enhanced cleared
  • Have adequate insurance
  • Have adequate first aid training
  • Should hold an NGB qualification as recogised
  • Keep a record of all new young people joining the club as a result of the school club link
  • Keep a record of all members and which schools they attend

School Requirements

• Provide a named nominated point of contact within the school
• Display posters and promote the club as agreed
• To inform the club of any policies and procedures specific to their individual school, i.e. discipline etc

School Club Links: Agreement Level 2

Outcome of School Club Link

• Communication 3 or 4 times a year, e.g. flyer, poster, assembly, etc
• Irregular taster session at school or club provided by club coaches, e.g. one per half term
• A signed partnership agreement between club and school
• At the end of the agreed period a review of activity will take place including monitoring and evaluation

Club Requirements

The club should have

• A duty of care and child protection policy
• Adequate public liability insurance: this should be covered by the club’s insurance and/or school insurance
• Affiliation to the relevant NGB
• All Coaches and volunteers working with young people should
  • Be DBS enhanced cleared
  • Have adequate insurance
  • Have adequate first aid training
  • Should hold an NGB qualification as recommended by their governing body
  • Keep a record of all new young people joining the club as a result of the school club link
  • Keep a record of all members and which schools they attend

School Requirements

• Provide a named nominated point of contact within the school
• Display posters and promote the club as agreed
• If a coach is coming into school during curriculum time a teacher must be present at all times
• If a coach is coming into school outside curriculum time then the school maintains a duty of care for the young people participating. It is the teachers’ responsibility to assess when it is appropriate to leave the coach alone with the pupils and if the teacher is not planning to stay with the session then they must ensure the coach knows how and where to contact the teacher or a member of the school staff.
• To inform the club of any policies and procedures specific to their individual school, i.e. discipline, emergency procedures (fire drill), any relevant medical conditions (asthmatics, epileptics) etc
• If practical coaching sessions are taking place, maintain a register of all young people attending.

School Club Links: Agreement Level 3

Outcome of School Club Link

• Communication 4 or 5 times a year, e.g. flyer, poster, assembly, etc
• Regular coaching opportunity on school site provided by club coaches eg once a week for half a term
• A signed partnership agreement between club and school
• At the end of the agreed period a review of activity will take place including monitoring and evaluation

Club Requirements

The club should have

• Accreditation from their NGB
• A duty of care and child protection policy
• Adequate public liability insurance
• Affiliation to the relevant NGB

School Requirements

• At least one teacher or AOTT should attend a minimum level coaching course within a 12-month period vProvide a named nominated point of contact within the school
• Display posters and promote the club as agreed
• If a coach is coming into school during curriculum time a teacher must be present at all times
• If a coach is coming into school outside curriculum time then the school maintains a duty of care for the young people participating. It is the teachers responsibility to assess when it is appropriate to leave the coach alone with the pupils and if the teacher is not planning to stay with the session then they must ensure the coach knows how and where to contact the teacher or a member of the school staff.
• To inform the club of any policies and procedures specific to their individual school, i.e. discipline, emergency procedures (fire drill), any relevant medical conditions (asthmatics, epileptics) etc
• If practical coaching sessions are taking place, maintain a register of all young people attending.

Return to previous page

RETURN TO HOME PAGE