The LINKS School Sport Partnership located in Sheffield was initially established under the name All Saints School Sports Co-ordinator in September 2001 as part of the Governments PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy.
The partnership is still very much a part of All Saints Catholic Sports College, but was relaunched as Links in December 2006. The decision to rename the partnership came as a result of an expansion of schools and a desire to create a new identity that reflected the diverse range of schools within the partnership.
LINKS School Sport Partnership is made up of families of schools based around several secondary schools across the city.
We have School Sport Coordinators based within secondary schools which work with the secondary schools feeder primary schools assisting to develop high quality PE, and increased opportunities to take part in school sport and out of hours learning.
Our main hub schools are All Saints Catholic High School, Springs Academy, Notre Dame, Stocksbridge Secondary, Bradfield Secondary, Talbot and Seven Hills.
[Click to see all the School Clusters here..]
The overall objective of the partnership is to increase the percentage of 5-16 year old school children in England who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 85%.
We are fortunate to have an amazing team of sports coordinators who work supporting schools and develop links with organisations such as the Local Authority, Activity Sheffield, Sheffield International Venues, Sheffield Hallam University and local sports clubs. We are also incredibly lucky in Sheffield to have strong links between School Sport Partnerships, who work together increasing opportunities for all schools across the city.
Our Objectives:
The partnerships overall aim is to help schools to ensure that their pupils spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport. The Partnership Development Manager, SSCos, PLTs work together to produce and implement a three year development plan that addresses six aims:
Strategic Planning: To develop and implement a PE and school sport strategy, as part of school development plans, through working in partnership with key strategic organisations and providers in the area
Primary Liaison: to improve PE and school sport programmes by establishing and developing links within and between families of schools (particularly around the KS2/3 interface).
Out of School Hours: to provide new and enhanced out of schools hours opportunities for all young people in the partnership, including out of school hours learning, non-competitive participation and competition.
School to Community: to increase all young peoples participation in community sport through creating and strengthening links with sports clubs, leisure facilities and community providers.
Coaching and Leadership: to provide training, support and deployment opportunities in leadership, coaching and officiating for senior pupils, adults other than teachers (AOTTs) and teachers.
Raising Standards: to raise standards of pupil's achievement in all aspects of their school life, through increased participation and improved performance, motivation and attitudes.
School Games Organiser and SSCo For Stocksbridge
Emma Flaherty is the School Games Organiser for Links SSP, and also the SSCo for Stocksbridge.
Curriculum Manager and SSCo For Notre Dame
Kim Horton, based at Notre Dame Secondary School has 2 years experience with the partnership and has worked to develop fitness initiatives and leadership programmes. Kim has played a key role across the partnership in particular the organisation of the Movement Festival, and has particular strengths when working with Key Stage 1. In addition Kim has now taken up the role as Curriculum Manager, where she over sees all of the Links SSP coaches.
SSCo For Springs Academy and SSCo For Inclusion Service
Craig Malkin is the SSCo for Springs Academy and SSCo for the Inclusion Service. Craig has been with the partnership for over 2 years and is primary school trained. He plays a key role in organising athletics events, and many other sporting events throughout his clusters of primary schools, as well as the over all partnership. This year, Craig is the new SSCo for the Inclusion Service and has worked on many initiatives with them developing cycling programmes to re-engage students into schools.
SSCo For Bradfield
Sarah Lofthouse is the SSCo for Bradfield feeder schools and is based at Bradfield Secondary School. Sarah has been with the partnership for three years and plays a key role in delivering leadership programmes at Bradfield Secondary school, as well as maximising local resources in bouldering, orienteering and outdoor adventurous activities.
SSCo For All Saints
Shaun Needham is based at All Saints Catholic High School and has been with the partnership for 1 year. He has been working on strengthening the links between the school and the cluster of primaries and has developed a variety of leadership pathways as well as some new ideas involving inter-school competition.
SSCo Special Schools
Dawn Wood is a special needs specialist having been with the partnership for seven years. Dawn works with children with varying physical and learning difficulties and has developed a diverse range of opportunities for students many of which are open to special schools across Yorkshire e.g BOCCIA and athletics.
SSCo Special Schools
Emma Morris is the SSCo for Special Schools. Emma started working for Links after completing her degree in Sports Development and Coaching at Sheffield Hallam University and has now been with the partnership for 3 years. Emma is new to the role of SSCo this year, however is working alongside Dawn who has had over 6 years experience with SEN schools in Sheffield.
Key Liaison Contact / Sports Coach
Rhiannon Parry is a sports coach for both mainstream and SEN children and also a key liaison contact for Links. Rhiannon completed her degree in Sports Development and Coaching at Sheffield Hallam last year, and has been working for the Link for the past 18 months. Rhiannon is now working at Stocksbridge Juniors and Pipworth to deliver National Curriculum PE throughout the whole school.
