Developing a College Sport Strategy

May 2013

Clare Howard, Head of Sport Policy, AoC

Clare HowardHead of Sports Policy

Association of Colleges

Developing your cross-College sport and physical

activity strategy

Purpose of the workshop• To understand the benefits of a

College-wide sports strategy – why do it?

• To help you begin the process of developing a strategy:– Examine context– Develop your vision– Roles and responsibilities/staffing– External partnerships and potential

funding– Use of the plan and communication

National focus onquality standards

The Education and Training Foundation

Chartered Status

National sport strategy

• Vision, strategic aims and objectives (seven areas)

• Good practice case studies

• Advocacy papers for Colleges and community sport

• Annual operational plan

National context (sport)

• Active Colleges – 153 College Sport

Makers– 100+ others

through FE Activation Fund

• £160m for facilities

• New satellite clubs• Funding for NGBs

and local partners

Your College in December 2013

1. What existing documents/plans do you have?

2. Why do you want to develop a cross-College sport and physical activity strategy?

Why do it?

Benefits to your College

Communication / links with community

partners and employers

Helps to attract funding

Helps internal communication

New inspection framework:

improves teaching, learning,

outcomes

Priorities and work

programming – staff resources

Profile and reputation of your College –

aid to recruitment

Transferable skills for

learners in all subject areas

Know WHY you want one:your reasons will affect...• ...how long?• ...headings and structure?• ...what format?• ...target audience?• ...number of copies?• ...circulation?• ...timescale?

Process for your strategy

Key drivers and what influences you

(national and local / top and bottom)

Your mission, vision and values

Big headings / “Chunks” - Goals or strategic objectives

Self Assessment – priorities and

influencing College SAR

Team/Departmental Improvement

Planning

Individual objectives and work

programming

Implementation

Key drivers and what influences

you (national and local/top and

bottom)Your mission, vision

and values

Big headings / “Chunks” - Goals or strategic objectives

Self Assessment – priorities and

influencing College SAR

Team / Departmental Improvement

Planning

Individual objectives and work

programming

Implementation

Step 1

What influences the whole College? National policy?Catchment demographics?Funding?External organisations?Inspection?

What other plans might drive the strategy?LA plans?CSP strategy?Facility plans?Health organisations?

Your geographic context

Know your area...• Demographic data• Health data• Economic performance• Participation and activity levels• Sporting facilities• Nearest neighbour comparisons

Strategic organisations and policy makers

• Government departments (Education, BIS, Health, Culture)

• UK Sport• Sport England• Youth Sport Trust• AoC• National Governing

Bodies• CSPs• LAs

Delivery partners

• Employers• County Sports Partnerships• Sports Development

Officers• Local Authorities – leisure

centres, Youth Service, Extended Services

• Schools• Community Sports Coaches• Voluntary sector• Private sector• Leagues, clubs and GBs• Professional clubs

Keeping it simple

Key drivers and what influences you

(national and local / top and bottom)

Your mission, vision and

values

Big headings / “Chunks” - Goals or strategic objectives

Self Assessment – priorities and

influencing College SAR

Team / Departmental Improvement

Planning

Individual objectives and work

programming

Implementation

Step 2

Identifying mission/vision:

What do you want to achieve?What does success look like?Identifying appropriate wordsStatement/re-statement How does this relate to your Collegemission?

Vision for your strategy

Key drivers and what influences you

(national and local / top and bottom)

Your mission, vision and values

Big headings / “Chunks” - Goals

or strategic objectives

Self Assessment – priorities and

influencing College SAR

Team / Departmental Improvement

Planning

Individual objectives and work

programming

Implementation

• Themes (Could be health, equity etc)• Work areas (facilities, coaching,

volunteering)• Geographic areas• Target groups of learners• Community use and links

Step 3

Chunks/big headings

Other exampleheadings used

1. Develop our partnership working2. Develop workforce3. Re-design provision to meet future skills

and funding priorities4. Build and manage facilities5. Achieve outstanding success rates

through improvements to teaching and learning

6. Increase levels of physical activity and improve the health of learners

How would you structure your strategy?

Curriculum Extra curricular

sport

Enrichment

Key drivers and what influences you

(national and local / top and bottom)

Your mission, vision and values

Big headings / “Chunks” - Goals

or strategic objectives

Self Assessment – priorities and

influencing College SAR

Team / Departmental Improvement

Planning

Individual objectives and work

programming

Implementation

Step 4: Self assessmentand setting priorities

• Complete a self assessment with as many members of staff as possible involved

(formal or informal)

Key drivers and what influences you

(national and local / top and bottom)

Your mission, vision and values

Big headings / “Chunks” - Goals or strategic objectives

Self Assessment – priorities and

influencing College SAR

Team / Departmental Improvement

Planning

Individual objectives and work

programming

Implementation

Step 5

List projects and work areas emanating from strategic objectivesRoles and responsibilitiesWho leads?Who needs to participate?Who needs to be informed?Who is not involved?Use a matrix

Roles and responsibilitiesArea (change to suit) Who Who Who WhoCurriculum developments

Employer links/ApprenticeshipsParticipation: inactive

Participation: already active

Volunteering

Teams, clubs, competition

Club links

Support for elite performers

Facility management

Facility planning

Health, physical activity

Key drivers and what influences you

(national and local / top and bottom)

Your mission, vision and values

Big headings / “Chunks” - Goals or strategic objectives

Self Assessment – priorities and

influencing College SAR

Team / Departmental Improvement

Planning

Individual objectives and work

programming

Implementation

Steps 6 and 7

Project management techniquesGantt chartsLine managementCommunicationTeam buildingEffective meetingsEtcEtc

Action planning foryour prioritiesPriority Action Who Resource

sTimescale Targets

What next? Your timetable for production

• A 3-6 month process• Needs to link with other planning cycles• Needs sign off and involvement of

Principal and SMT• Link back to WHY you are producing it?

What format will you need and who will need to buy in?

• Don’t underestimate the interest it will generate

Immediate actionsfrom today...

1. Advocacy and persuasion, gain senior level support (example)

2. Visioning and scoping session – essential to gain buy in across College

3. Establish cross-College working group and set dates for meetings

4. Agree production timetable and stick to it!5. There will be a temptation for the process

and the document to grow; keep it as simple as possible

clare_howard@aoc.co.uk07775 665138

@AoC_Sports