While the COVID-19 outbreak has prevented our post-16 students from finishing their season on the pitch in the EFL Community and Education Football Alliance League, they have remained busy during the lockdown period by engaging in their studies from home.
Our students’ football games programme – which allows them to represent the Trust by competing against other community trust teams, alongside their studies – was terminated at the start of May, but our education team have kept learners occupied in other ways.
Students have immersed themselves in competitions and live workouts to remain physically and mentally healthy, with students Nic Ogden and Raeesa Yasin running over 100 miles over recent weeks – students have been submitting evidence of their efforts via Strava.
Course inclusive challenges and tournaments such as quizzes and gaming competitions have also been introduced to keep up students’ competitive spirit and encourage them to engage with one another!
Jodi Collum, post-16 education programme leader, said: “Learners’ attitude and engagement to distant learning has been excellent.
“We’ve continued to educate our learners from a distance, using resources such as Google Classroom, Zoom and even engaging them in home works, submitting evidence through Strava.”
The education team have kept in regular contact with students, both through group classroom learning and on a one-to-one basis, with frequent calls made to our students, some of whom have also received one of our PNECET Helping Hampers to help them and their families through the current crisis.
The Trust is continuing to recruit for new students to start in September on its programmes.
For year 11 students preparing to leave high school, the Trust runs a Level 2 Gateway diploma in Sport and Active Leisure or a Level 3 OCR diploma in Sport, both of which allow students to represent the Trust in the aforementioned EFL CEFA league, alongside their studies.
Furthermore, college leavers with a Level 3 qualification or equivalent, or those who have completed the Trust's Level 3 programme, can study a foundation degree programme in community football coaching. This two-year course is run in partnership with the University of South Wales and the EFL Trust, containing two residentials a year.
📽️ If you're set to leave high school this summer and are considering your education options for next year, make sure you check out the options we have available to study at the #PNECET Sports College. ⚽️@EFLCEFA @EFLTrust #pnefc pic.twitter.com/WQjIpXv3Vk
— Preston North End Community and Education Trust (@pnecommunity) May 20, 2020
Courses are ideal for those looking to pursue a career in sport. Students on both courses have access to a number of bespoke opportunities throughout the year, which has included welcoming North End stars Declan Rudd and Tom Clarke into their lessons earlier in the academic year for exclusive nutritional advice.
PNECET Sports College students also have an annual trip to Portugal where students are able to visit and study in top class sporting facilities with opportunities to play against native opposition.
📸 #PNECET’s Year 2 Level 3 Post-16 education students have been studying nutrition of late...
— Preston North End Community and Education Trust (@pnecommunity) October 4, 2019
Yesterday, #pnefc captain Tom Clarke spoke to them on all things diet, lifestyle and preparation. 🥗
Thanks for the invaluable insight, Clarkey! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/I3H9hPEu4z
We are holding a range of online open evenings to allow interested students to speak with members of the education team about their potential future studies with the Trust.
You can express your interest by clicking here or emailing graeme@pne.com.