Orienteering Case study in School Club Links document

[Toni]

I've just been looking at the new government school-club links document distributed to all school sport partnerships, county sport partnerships, local education authorities.... It was fantastic to see a case study of good practice from Orienteering - well done to all those involved!

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/9740/schoolclublinks[1].pdf

[Ed]

not just a case-study, but also orienteering presented as a "proper" sport, with photos of a kid running, and not a group stood around looking at a map. good work by CLOK in the first place, and by whoever did the write-up for the document.

[MikeWinter]

What a fantastic effort! I'm a governor of a local 'inner city' school in Leeds and read this report with some excitement. I would be interested if any of those involved could give an indication of how much work was involved in terms of securing funding etc..? How wonderful to give an opportunity for young people to orienteer who would probably never do so otherwise.

[Nottinghamshire outlaw]

As the author of the 'O' case study section and BOF Development Manager - Mike, your school will be part of a School Sport Partnership, which may already have met the YH RDO, Colin Best, and may be developing orienteering in school and making links with other local schools for 'O' competitions on their sites with a view that keen children and their families will be interested in coming along to local club events. We are trying to provide schools with access to staff training and resources so that they can start 'O' at school as an exciting, racing sport and local club park and sprint events, which I know that your club puts on, are just the thing to get them hooked - as some clubs are finding.

[Paul T]

I'm aware of some of what has gone on, but far from all. A good start is to look here: http://www.clok.org.uk/Schools/index.htm
That page has some contact details for the main man, Mike Hardy, and I'm sure he would be willing to share. Be patient because he may well be taking a breather after this afternoon's schools event, at which the normal attendance is now around 400. Please PM me if there is no reply.

The other good thumbnail sketch is here :
http://www.clok.org.uk/Members/clubofyear2006.htm
It illustrates the sheer amount of effort and persistence (and expertise in form filling) needed over many years to sustain this amount of activity.

[MikeWinter]

Thanks Paul T & Nottinghamshire Outlaw for your advice and further info. I also had a good chat with Andy Kelly last night at the Danefield sprint. I will speak with the Head and see what is already in place, but when I last spoke to her about O there wasn't any happening. Still, you've given me something to get my teeth into!