Vocational Sport students at Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form have been working with Blacko Primary School to provide sports coaching to the local school children.
Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form has a long-standing tradition of excellence in sport and can count a number of top athletes as former students, including Olympic bronze medallist Steven Burke, top woman’s goalkeeper Rachel Brown, who has played for Everton FC and England and talented netballer Natalie Haythornthwaite, who is a key member of the England Under 21 squad. The Vocational course at the College is extremely popular and each year sees a large number of students progress to university on a range of sport related degree programmes, including physiotherapy.
As part of the Vocational course, the students learn various coaching techniques and working in conjunction with Blacko Primary School, they are able to put what they learn into practise, supervising the visiting school children in a variety of sporting activities.
Head Teacher of Blacko Primary School, Mark Harrison said, “We are passionate about sport at Blacko and also very successful. One of the advantages we have is the superb coaching by the BTEC students at Nelson and Colne College. Children from Year 1 up to Year 6 are given the opportunity to be coached at the College in their marvellous sports hall. They are a big factor in our success and I cannot give them enough praise.”
At the end of the school year, the Sports students also help to plan and run the Primary School’s annual Sports Day, which this year will have an Olympic theme.
