Primary Schools 

Kells Infants & St Gregorys & St Patricks 

Whitehaven RLFC in the community have been engaging young children and developing their basic movement patterns, which are agility, balance and co-ordination.  These are the FUNdamentals of movement of which all children can transfer into various sporting activities.

The children have been developing these skills with community coaches Gary Sandwith & Marc Bainbridge over a period of 5 / 6 weeks.

The team work in both primary & secondary schools within Copeland and deliver a healthy & active lifestyle education to all schools, which mainly focuses on maintaining a balanced diet and participating in some form of exercise at least 3 times a week.

The sessions and education sessions are well received by all schools and Mrs Joyce Bestford a teacher from Kells Infants School commented

“It’s great to see Whitehaven RLFC coming into school.  The children really look forward to it and they all thoroughly enjoy all the sessions. The difference from the first session until the last session is noticeable in all children in different ways.  Some have increased self confidence, feel a sense of achievement, there are improved motor skills and concentration levels within the classroom are increased”

Participants to feel the same way Lewis aged 6 said

“I enjoy playing the games and learning the skills especially ‘spilling the milk’ and being able to dodge in and out of other players”

Jamie Ellen aged 7 commented

“Its fun, I like playing the games and would like to continue playing”

These sentiments were confirmed by Head teacher Mrs Margaret Kershaw

“The school were proud to achieve Active Mark status and with the quality delivery from the Whitehaven RLFC Community Team, these sessions help to maintain and develop the set standard.  Encouraging young children to lead a healthy & active lifestyle and encouraging them to exercise regularly is great.  These sessions help to develop teamwork and co-operation which is transferable into the classroom and helps to develop young children to work together and get along with each other”

St Greogorys & St Patricks are another infant school receiving our coaching programme and teacher Tony Gagg said

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the kids and club to share knowledge, expertise and facilities within the community.  It provides the children with the opportunity to participate and show the general public the skills they have learnt, which doesn’t often happen.  Rugby League has become an integral part of our PE curriculum within school”

Callum aged 7 said

“I like being outside and coming down to the pitch and learning different games”

Eleanor aged 7 commented

“I like it because it is fun and we have different people taking us than are at school”

Both Kells Infants and St Gregorys & St Patricks schools will be playing against each other at half time in our forthcoming Northern Rail Cup against Workington Town on 25^th March.  The tag games between these two schools are always entertaining and everybody at both schools are looking forward to the 25^th March.