CRICKET
Shining
bright
The Chance to
RICKET TRADITIONALLY The intention behind the research was to evaluate the school, but that increases to 83 per cent on days when
impact of Chance to Shine – the Cricket Foundation’s Chance to Shine lessons are timetabled.
Shine project
ow on campaign to regenerate competitive cricket, where Wasim Khan, operations director for the Cricket
leather, a gently dozing crowd, warm trained coaches go into schools and work with teachers Foundation, explained: “The research reveals the
beer and picnics. and students. It found that a number of schools have extensive impact the initiative is having on pupils
aims to improve
C
conjures up images of warm English
summers, the sound of will
Now new research indicates that used the programme effectively to encourage and across a number of areas.
it should be a staple part of the school reinforce good behaviour. In fact, at one school, “Through expert coaching and competition, Chance
student behaviour
curriculum – not just because of the impact it can have after-school sessions were organised for a group of to Shine is delivering sustainable cricket programmes
on fitness, but because it boosts concentration. disaffected students as a reward for good behaviour as well as contributing significantly to the provision of
through cricket, and new
The study, carried out by Loughborough University’s and attendance, proving the perfect way to re-engage high quality PE.”
Institute of Youth Sport and commissioned by the the pupils. Simon Dyson, the executive chairman of Chance to
research shows it is working.
Cricket Foundation, also highlights how the English That is because cricket offers a very special code Shine, added: “We’ve always recognised the power of
game can help improve pupils’ confidence and social of sporting conduct in the truest sense of the word, competitive cricket to help young people acquire skills,
Carrie Dunn reports
skills, overcome cultural barriers, generate enthusiasm meaning that good play on one side is recognised by the values and attitudes. The evaluation appears to validate
within the classroom, and increase activity levels. other. Everyone will recall seeing a player raise his bat this conviction and is tremendously encouraging, not
to salute the crowd, his team-mates and the opposition only for us, but for the thousands of state school
when he scores 50 or 100 – and that is exactly what children involved in the programme.”
happens at every level of the game. And now there will be the chance for even more
“With cricket there is very much a code of conduct students to shine, as the England and Wales Cricket
and code of behaviour, such as clapping if somebody Board (ECB) rolls out its specially designed educational
gets a six – even with the other side,” one teacher resource Howzat! to 1,000 cricket coaches and 1,000
IS YOUR SCHOOL WEBSITE
involved in the scheme told researchers. school teachers a year as part of a major new initiative
The research shows that only 39 per cent of pupils to improve cricket coaching in schools.
surveyed thought that they and their peers are well Howzat! was first launched as a paper-based
WORKING FOR YOU?
behaved in school. However, this figure leaps to 60 per educational resource eight years ago, distributed to
cent in the Chance to Shine sessions. two-thirds of state schools, and in the last year it has
One student explained: “It has given us something been vamped up along with computer software to tie in
that we can be good at and we’ve really enjoyed it with the launch of the new national curriculum.
– we have been able to show our teachers and each The coaches and teachers who are working within
other that we can be good at something, because the Chance to Shine programme are making use of
usually everyone just thinks we are bad and causing the new materials, which offer thousands of different
Bright Schools provide a wealth of interactive
trouble.” games and practices.
website tools to improve communication and
Ruth Jeanes, co-author of the report, said: “The Speaking at the launch, ECB chairman, Giles
research demonstrates the potential of Chance to Clarke, said: “The redesign and relaunch of Howzat!
create a vibrant online school community
Shine to contribute to pupils’ wider educational shows our unwavering commitment to producing
experience. Children’s physical and social skills quality cricket coaching in schools and meeting
were felt to have improved. We also found that the needs of pupils and teachers. The legacy of
pupils believed they were considerably more active Howzat! will be significant in aiding the production of
in Chance to Shine, and at a higher intensity levels, both quality cricketers and healthy children over the
than in their usual PE lesson, which illustrates the coming years.”
value of the programme to young people’s health and Pete Ackerley, the ECB head of development,
wellbeing.” agreed, adding: “The new, improved Howzat! shows
Ms Jeanes is not the only one who thinks that. The what can be achieved when sports governing bodies
teachers and students who participated in the survey and schools work together. It will be a terrific asset in
support her views, saying that Chance to Shine lessons the classroom and on the playing field and help develop
offer opportunities for everyone to engage – not just competence and understanding among teachers and
those with natural sporting talent. coaches.”
“He’s really nice – if you do something wrong The scheme even has the backing of Ed Balls,
then he helps you sort it out,” said one student of their the minister for children, schools and families, who
coach, and a classmate added: “He makes sure people said: “Cricket and other competitive sports have huge
who aren’t very good get involved and he helps them spin-off benefits for young people in and out of the
get better.” classroom. It’s vital that the sport continues to flourish
“We had a superb trainer come in last year,” another – and that future generations get the coaching they
CONTaCT BRIGHT SCHOOLS FOR FLExIBLE WEBSITE
teacher commented. “He was really skilled, keen and need and teachers the support they need to deliver the
reliable, and if he couldn’t attend he would always get national curriculum.”
SOLUTIONS TO SUIT YOUR ONLINE REqUIREmENTS
someone else in. He was very inclusive. We have a For teachers that would like to start offering cricket
very high percentage of visually impaired kids because in school but are not sure where to begin, Chance to
we have a special unit attached to our school. He was Shine and the new Howzat! resources provide a good
excellent at getting them involved.” starting point. With expert guidance and lesson plans
Cricket is also a cross-cultural language, meaning that have been tried and tested, even cricketing novices
that pupils from different ethnic backgrounds with a can put it into practice.
weaker grasp of English can join in. “The amount of cricket has increased hugely since
“A lot of our children have academic difficulties and Chance to Shine,” concluded one teacher. “Cricket was
we do find that in sporting activities they may have a something we wanted to develop and this has given us
t 0800 680 0327
hidden talent,” said another teacher in the survey. the boost and direction to do it.” SecEd
“A lot of our Bengali children may have English as
e info@brightschools.co.uk
an additional language, but if you get them on a cricket • Carrie Dunn is a freelance tutor at various London
pitch they are up there with their peers or even ahead. universities and an education writer.
w brightschools.co.uk
It gives them a sense of self-worth that they are good at
something, which raises their self-esteem.”
Further information
And it also means they look forward to coming to • Chance to Shine: www.chancetoshine.org
school: 64 per cent of the students surveyed usually like • England and Wales Cricket Board: www.ecb.co.uk
14 SecEd • July 9 2009
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