Hence, we are currently focussed on implementing an exciting education provision throughout our Region via High Level Sport & Education Post 16 partnerships.
The hub partnerships will provide many positive opportunities and pathways for students to ensure maximum engagement and achievement for youngsters who may be otherwise disaffected or lost to education. We aim to use our brand to engage, retain and ultimately progress all the participants involved in the programme and to provide significant expertise and added value to the hub establishments.
How will this be achieved? As part of our commitment to the community and to our Region, we, the Newport Gwent Dragons are looking to partner with one school/education establishment in each of the authorities to develop a community centred outstanding educational and sports programme.
Having undertaken a considerable amount of research, we are conscious of results that have been achieved elsewhere in the United Kingdom through the combination of the involvement of a professional sports franchise or club combined with educational excellence and are keen that we provide similar opportunities in our region for our youth.
Through partnerships with local schools who share our aims and vision and who will act as the hub for the delivery of the educational elements, the proposed programme will combine a high level sport provision with a BTEC course, offering elite coaching (via Dragons High Level Sports Coach) and teaching excellence. Delivered against the backdrop of a professional sports environment, this new project is important to us in ensuring the highest possible outcomes in developing young adults into professional sport, coaching or onto higher education or at the very least to allow them to achieve to their highest potential to provide them with life skills which will give them the best chance of securing long term careers.
To help us develop and deliver these outcomes, as a region we have entered into partnership with TVS Education Limited to utilise their experience in delivering education programmes with enrichment experiences through the medium of sport. They are currently working with over 50 Football League clubs and delivering education programmes to some 1500 students nationwide.
We plan to commence this new provision with effect from September 2015. Our partners will become the exclusive hub for its area offering an exciting new course that will be an attractive opportunity for student to develop their studies alongside their rugby with the added bonus of being exclusively linked and promoted by the Dragons.
The course is not aimed at elite athletes who are being catered for through the academy pathways already existing but would provide opportunities for those students who want to play or be involved with rugby and would offer professional coaching as part of the programme as well as a range of other enrichment opportunities including meeting Dragons players, attendance at matches and a full and regular games programme culminating in a regional tournament against other Regional representative teams. First and foremost however, it would be an educational offering designed to ensure those involved attain the maximum possible outcomes.
The key for us at Newport Gwent Dragons is to provide an opportunity that will not only provide outstanding provision to students, but one that is able to both maintain and extend the reputation of all involved. The planning for such an exciting provision is well on course and we are delighted that the first schools to become official partners are;
Croesyceiliog School
Torfaen - High Level Sport & Education Post 16 partnerships centre
Llanwern High School
Newport - High Level Sport & Education Post 16 partnerships centre
King Henry VIII School
Monmouthshire - High Level Sport & Education Post 16 partnerships centre
We hope to announce the additional authority area hubs in the near future as we are in advanced discussions with a number of schools and education establishments from the remaining authority areas. Once all hubs are confirmed we intend to officially launch the provision with our all our partners before the real work of planning and recruitment begins.
