News & Headteacher Blogs

Football is the fastest growing sport for girls, and after the successes of the Lionesses over the last few seasons, it is now more mainstream. Indeed, we have a number of girls football teams here at The Downs School.

In order to play our part in growing the sport amongst females, three of our school’s female sport ambassadors and PE teacher Mrs Miller-Cook, went on the ‘Game of our own’ training Programme last week, which provides face-to-face training for teachers to support them to engage girls in physical education through football, and supports girls to be leading football related activity for others.

The aims of the programme are to improve PE experiences for girls through the teachers adopting a life skills approach to PE using football. It also aims to increase the number of girls participating in and enjoying football.

Delivered by staff from the FA PE unit, the training has been divided into two parts; Marketer training and Deliverer training. Molly D, Izzy S and Katie N completed their Marketeer training last week, giving them the knowledge and skills to now be able to support, establish and undertake marketing activities to recruit more female students to take part in football activities within PE lessons and join after school clubs.  Three more of our sports ambassadors will take part in the Deliverer training in March.

PE teacher Mrs Miller-Cook said: “ The girls had a great day and have learned lots of new skills to encourage their friends and other students to get involved in football. We already have a number of successful female football teams here at The Downs School, but this new approach should mean we are able to set up more teams going forwards.”