Playing for Success [1] was an initiative in England set up by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, aims to focus on raising literacy, numeracy and ICT standards amongst demotivated KS2 and KS3 pupils. by holding out of school hours study support centres at football clubs and other sports’ grounds. The centres used the environment and medium of football, rugby union and other sports to help motivate pupils identified by their schools, as being in need of a boost to help them get back up to speed in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology.
These Study Support Centres were staffed by centre managers, who are qualified and experienced teachers, supported by higher education and further education students working as mentors.
It was closed abruptly due to the austerity measures introduced by the coalition government in 2010 to 2011, saving around £20 million in revenue funding from the standards fund and leaving hundreds of state of the art classrooms, with high levels of ICT equipment and in the heart of sporting facilities, to waste Away.
The scheme started in 1997, when the Department for Education and Skills supported a small pilot which was held in FA Premier League it was extended to Nationwide Division one clubs a couple of years later. This scheme extended twice since 2004, through a new partnership between the Football Foundation and the Department for Education and Skills. The extension saw new centres open around the country, mainly by involving new sports such as Rugby union, Rugby League Cricket, Hockey, Tennis, Gymnastics, Basketball, Ice Hockey and Horseracing. In January 2008, 162 football and other sports’ clubs are involved, with 159 centres open to date, benefiting 210,00 pupils so far.