Sport Aberdeen has delivered an impactful programme of sport and physical activity for hundreds of school children across Aberdeen, in partnership with Robert Gordon University (RGU).
Second-year RGU Applied Sport and Exercise students completed full-time placements across 22 city schools, delivering a total of 38 extra-curricular sessions, in conjunction with Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team.
The placement programme, involving 24 students, ran for 4 weeks from mid-January and saw the students organising and leading multisport activities including running, basketball, football, boccia, dance, and playground games.
The initiative forms part of a long-standing partnership between Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team and RGU, with the programme designed to provide the students with practical experience while supporting schools to increase both curricular and extracurricular sports and physical activity provision.
Prior to starting their placements, the university students took part in two training sessions delivered by Active Schools to ensure they were confident and prepared for their school placements.
During the four-week placement block, the students supported curricular PE by shadowing class teachers and delivering PE lessons. They were also involved in planning and delivering activities out with school time aimed at increasing participation and providing young people with more opportunities to be active.
Second-year RGU Applied Sport and Exercise students completed full-time placements across 22 city schools in conjunction with Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team
Sarah Fraser, Lead Active Schools Co-ordinator with Sport Aberdeen, said, “We were delighted to continue our invaluable partnership with RGU to widen access to sport and activity for all children and young people in Aberdeen schools.
“The student volunteers play a huge role in helping us provide more pupils with positive and inclusive opportunities to be active. The RGU students bring so much energy and enthusiasm into schools and help inspire a passion for sport and physical activity for the next generation.”
Dr Patrick Maughan, Course Leader for Applied Sport and Exercise Science at RGU, said: “Working alongside valued placement providers such as Sport Aberdeen is central to how we deliver an outstanding student experience at RGU.
“Through meaningful work-integrated learning opportunities in schools across the city, our Applied Sport and Exercise Science students apply their knowledge in real-world settings. This gives them the opportunity to develop their professional confidence, practical skills, and employability that drives graduate success and generates positive feedback from both students and partners alike.”
Alongside this yearly placement programme with RGU, Sport Aberdeen continues to support a range of additional student placement and volunteering opportunities including third-year sports coaching placements with students completing six weeks in school as well as NesCol student placements and ad hoc placements focused on female only participation across city primary schools.
In addition, an upcoming six-week placement programme is due to run through April and May involving Applied Sport and Exercise Science students working across primary and secondary schools.
For more information about Active Schools, visit www.sportaberdeen.co.uk/activities/active-schools