Today, the students got into the team spirit when they had to complete some relay challenges, using pipes and tennis balls - even Miss Morris had a go, with her team, The Morris Dancers, winning all the challenges! The winning team stormed to victory, using great teamwork and coordination skills.

The Wrenn XV then learnt about healthy living, trying out a wide variety of fresh fruits, some for the first time. After testing the goods, the pupils were able to choose their favourite fruits to make a selection of nutritious smoothies, some with greater success than others!

After a healthy lunch, the pupils finished off their excellent Club Challenges, which will be displayed in the school and at the Saints Study Centre.

The Wrenn group have had a great three days here at Saints, and we can’t wait to come back!

Today, the lucky fifteen got to take part in some rugby coaching on the pitches at the Saints grounds. Community coach Tom Ennes took the Wrenn XV through their paces, as they brushed up on their catching and kicking skills. Tom was very impressed with the kicking ability of the students, saying they could kick better than him! After a gruelling training session, the students tackled a fast-paced game of rugby netball, with the girls putting their netball skills to good use, blocking a lot of passes.  Miss Morris was also very excited to meet rugby star, Mark Robinson, at the end of the session!

After catching their breath, the Wrenn XV then put their data-handling heads on, working out the average weights and heights of the players, then took part in the Club Challenge. The pupils have been busy bees, designing their own sports club, which includes choosing players, designing a stadium, working to a budget, sorting out sponsorship for their team, and designing a team strip and logo.

A great day for all involved!

Fifteen gifted and talented Year 10 science students from Wrenn School are taking part in a pilot programme comprised of three fun-filled activity days at the Saints Study Centre. Wrenn School is a Specialist Science College, and is running this event in conjunction with the Saints Study Centre as part of its Specialist Science status.

The students, aged 14-15 years old, have been chosen for their ability in science, and  during their stay will be making robots, doing Physics problems in conjunction with a stadium tour, learning about healthy eating and designing their own rugby club, amongst many other exciting challenges.

Joe Gray and James Cannon (son of 1980s Saints star, Vince Cannon) kindly stopped off mid-training to meet the students and to have their photos taken with them, and ask them about their days at the Saints Study Centre. Of course, at a staggering 6ft 8in, James towered above our students!

Wrenn is very grateful to the Saints Study Centre for helping to organise this fantastic event for our students.

The new Playing for Success term began last week with an induction day for each school. The children began the day with an introduction to the Saints Study Centre and its staff, followed by a photo taken next to Bernie. The photographs were then used to make a name badge using Microsoft Publisher.

The next activity involved lots of concentration and good folding skills to make an origami sports kit, which they then used to design a new Saints kit for next season.

After lunch the children took part in a practical tag rugby session which was held in the Rodber and Heroes suites due to bad weather. These sessions were delivered by qualified rugby coaches from the Saints community department. The children were given an opportunity to develop their running and passing skills followed by a game of tag rugby.

This term the young learners come from Mereway Community College, Bellinge, Briar Hill, Hunsbury Park, St Gregorys, St Andrews, Queen Eleanor and Simon de Senlis Primary Schools. Following the Induction day, the children will take part in a seven week programme here at the Saints Study Centre.
During the coming weeks the young learners will;
Interview players from the Saints first team squad and the Academy.
Learn and perform Circus skills with the County Jester, Kevin Burke.
Learn about the life of William Shakespeare through a drama workshop with Keiron Jones from, “Shakespeare Works”.
Take part in our interactive Healthy Living session.
Go on a Stadium tour, (visit the Home and Away changing rooms, run out the tunnel just like the players, and visit the physio area and the trophy room).
Complete follow up work on their Stadium tour using our very own Comic Strip template and Comic Life on the Centre’s Apple Mac’s.
Complete a PowerPoint presentation on their time at the Study Centre.
Finally, they will attend our Presentation Evening in the Rodber Suite in the presence of Saints first team members, Bernie the Mascot and their teachers, parents and relations on Wednesday July 9th at 7.00pm

Click here to see the Match Day experience at the Study Centre

The Saints Study Centre recently held its Celebration Evening for all the young learners who have taken part in the Playing for Success programme during this term.  In addition to these children, our daytime users were invited to the event.

Young learners from the following schools attended:

Northampton Academy

Earl Spencer

Eat Hunsbury

Ecton Brook

The Abbey

Thorplands

Standens Barn

 Thomas Becket

Delapre

The young learners were presented with a goody bag from the Saints Community Dept and a certificate of achievement by Saints players, Karl Rudski, Damien Browne, Mark Hopley, and of course, Bernie.  Over 450 parents, carers, teachers and relatives watched proudly as their children received their awards. 

The audience were also treated to a demonstration of circus skills by Kevin Burke the County Jester, who explained the educational benefits to the young learners in learning circus skills at the study centre.  A group of young learners were then picked out from the audience to demonstrate the skills they had acquired at the study centre to the audience.  Finally, a special performance by the young learners of their plate spinning, Diablo work, flower stick throwing, and juggling skills took place as they faced the players for the finale.  A wonderful evening was had by all!

Last week the children took part in a fantastic Circus Skills session led by County Jester Kevin Burke. Firstly, Kevin demonstrated all the activities including juggling, stilt walking, the diablo, and plate spinning. The children were then given the opportunity to practise all these activities followed by a presentation of their circus skills at the end of the session. There were plates flying, rings spinning and balls falling!

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that juggling and related activities can have a positive impact on a person’s ability to learn in a wider context. Research has confirmed that circus skills can help children with their co-ordination, concentration, balance, posture, creativity, interaction, rhythm and team work.

 Last week saw the beginning of the evening sessions for the children attending the Playing for Success programme. The course began with player interviews of the Saints first team and Academy players. A number of players gave up their time to come to the Study Centre to be interviewed by many enthusiastic young people. Two mock press conferences took place each evening, which allowed each child to ask the players a number of questions. The players included: Sean Lamont; Robbie Kydd; Karl Rudzki; Jon Vickers; Joe Gray; Courtney Lawes; Matt Lord; Damien Browne; Chris Budgen; James Downey; James Cannon and Alex Rae.Following the interview the children completed a Player Profile using Microsoft PowerPoint. This involved inserting a picture of their chosen player and a number of key facts about him. A title and a colourful background were then added to make a fantastic piece of work that they could then take home to show to their parents and teachers.

The children had a fantastic time and thoroughly enjoyed trying out their interviewing skills. Our thanks go to all the players who made this wonderful experience possible.

  The new Playing for Success term began the week commencing Monday 14^th January with an induction day for each school. The children began the day with an introduction to the Saints Study Centre and its staff, followed by a photo taken next to Bernie. The photographs were then used to make a name badge using Microsoft Publisher. The next activity involved lots of concentration and good folding skills to make an origami sports kit, which they then used to design a new Saints kit for next season. After lunch the children took part in a practical tag rugby session which was held in the Rodber and Heroes suites due to bad weather. These sessions were delivered by qualified rugby coaches from the Saints community department. The children were given an opportunity to develop their running and passing skills followed by a game of tag rugby.This term the young learners come from Northampton Academy, Earl Spencer, Ecton Brook, Delapre, Standens Barn, East Hunsbury, Thorplands and The Abbey Primary Schools. Following the induction day, the children will take part in a seven week programme here at the Saints Study Centre.

During the coming weeks the young learners will;

Interview players from the Saints first team squad and the Academy.

Learn and perform Circus skills with the County Jester, Kevin Burke.

Learn about the life of William Shakespeare through a drama workshop with Keiron Jones from, “Shakespeare Works”.

Take part in our interactive Healthy Living session.

Go on a Stadium tour, (visit the Home and Away changing rooms, run out the tunnel just like the players, and visit the physio area and the trophy room).

Complete follow up work on their Stadium tour using our very own Comic Strip template and Comic Life on the Centre’s Apple Mac’s.

Complete a PowerPoint presentation on their time at the Study Centre.

And finally, attend our Presentation Evening in the Rodber Suite in the presence of Saints first team members, Bernie the Mascot and their teachers, parents and relations.

This week the Playing for Success children have taken part in a drama workshop delivered by Keiron Jones from Shakespeare Works in London. The session commenced with the chldren watching a short film about the famous playwrite William Shakespeare, followed by a Shakespeare infused drama workshop. The children acted out various scenes from plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.

Learning about Shakespeare has never been so much fun!