Member Article

Building Foundations with Studio West students

Two Studio West students have been given the opportunity to hone their football coaching skills thanks to Newcastle United Foundation.

Liam Appleby (17) and Daniel Embleton (16) have, in conjunction with their school studies, been training to run football coaching sessions within primary and secondary schools across the region. The aim of the placement is to gain experience in coaching and to achieve FA Level 1 Award in Coaching Football Award. Dan already has this Award so he will be aiming for Level 2.

Liam said; “It’s been great being able to get stuck in with coaching sessions and having two days of the week to be on placement is totally unique to Studio West” Dan commented; “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to go for my Level 2 Award and have really enjoyed being able to balance my school work with my two-day placement”

Studio West is the first Studio School in Newcastle upon Tyne, and has students from 13 – 19 years old. Having opened in 2014, it uses real life enterprise projects to teach students practical skills as well as academic subjects including English, Maths and Science. The support of major business partners creates a unique blend of education and helps immerse the young students in the world of work.

Newcastle United Foundation is a key Business Partner. They host Liam and Dan for two days a week on placement and they also are heavily involved in PE provision for Years 9 and 10 at Studio West. Both Liam and Dan went through a traditional recruitment process to gain the placement; they applied for the post, were interviewed and they were both selected to start placements. They have been able to undertake coaching sessions at a variety of local schools already and the feedback has been very positive.

Giles Sandercock, Football Development Manager at Newcastle United Foundation commented: “Newcastle United Foundation has developed fantastic links with Studio West in its first year of opening. By being on work placement with NUF, Dan and Liam are developing real coaching and inter-personal skills which will help support them become ‘industry-ready’ and hopefully develop them into our next generation of dedicated and enthusiastic coaches”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam McLoughlin .