Football mentors give pupils a reason to return to school
For pupils drifting away from school, a trusted adult and something to look forward to can matter. Across 14 secondary schools in north-east England, football foundation mentors have been helping young people reconnect.
A new government case study describes Spark Education Trust’s programme, which reached around 170 pupils. Twice-weekly sessions over 12 weeks combined sport with activities about confidence, belonging and attendance. Young people also made care packages for veterans and supported younger pupils.
The work expanded an earlier pilot. Its funder, The Edwin Group, described that pilot’s partnerships with foundations linked to Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Sunderland football clubs.
The newer programme reported a modest 0.6% attendance increase in interim data. The case study does not give a comparison group or clarify whether that means percentage points, so the size and cause of the change remain uncertain. Continued delivery may need further funding.
Still, pupils described sessions as enjoyable and a reason to attend: a practical starting point for rebuilding their connection with school.
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