Key Stage Two pupils at Ashton Primary School were the final beneficiaries of a Preston North End player appearance for the 2021/22 season, as Greg Cunningham and Daniel Johnson answered questions from children before the last game of the season last week.
Ashton Primary School is a partner school of Preston North End Community and Education Trust [PNECET] under the Premier League Primary Stars programme, through which our staff deliver cross-curricular PE lessons at primary schools across Preston every week.
Primary Stars lessons combine maths and literacy concepts into children’s PE lessons, while utilising the power and appeal of Preston North End and football as a whole to inspire children through their learning.
Ashton pupils were lucky enough to welcome Cunningham and Johnson to their school earlier this month for a special Q&A session.
They had the opportunity to learn about some of the players’ lifestyle habits as footballers, their favourite memories from their career and time so far at Preston North End, as well as plenty more.
Ashton Primary School PE Lead Mrs McCann said: “It’s been amazing. The children were so excited before they came and had loads of questions to ask them.
“When they [the players] actually came, the children were just so excited. It’s been amazing for them to be able to ask them questions about their knowledge and skills in football.
“A lot of the children really enjoy football club and the matches that they play in so it’s just really encouraging them to get involved in all those sports.
“It’s also for them to know that if they have got goals that they can achieve them, and it is achievable for them if that’s what they want to do in the future.”
Schools Provision Coordinator Olivia Parkinson added: “It’s been fantastic to get our first team squad out in the community visiting our partner primary schools throughout the 2021/22 season.
“We were pleased to end the season with Greg Cunningham and Daniel Johnson visiting Ashton Primary School where pupils were able to ask the players questions and gain valuable insight from professional footballers.
“We hope this will help to inspire the children to continue working hard in PE and in all of their lessons in schools to help them achieve the goals.”
For more information about the Primary Stars programme, please contact Schools Provision Coordinator Olivia Parkinson by emailing olivia.parkinson@pne.com.