| The Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence was launched at Twickenham Stadium by Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn MP, and Minister for Skills, Phil Hope MP. The Apprenticeship will promote sporting excellence in Cricket, Tennis, Aquatic Sports and Rugby Union. | |
Apprentices with Ministers Richard Caborn and Phil Hope, and representatives from Edexcel, SkillsActive and the Learning & Skills Council. | Exclusively available to young people who have an excellent chance of making a career of competing in their chosen sport, the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence is designed to develop the skills and knowledge athletes require to compete successfully in their chosen sports. |
| Building on the successful tradition of Apprenticeships in football (the first young footballers from the new two year course, administered by the Premier League and the Football League will ‘graduate’ this July), the Apprenticeship will also provide learners with a broader education to help ensure that each individual has the skills needed to be successful in an industry outside of full time competition. In addition, the curriculum will include training targeted specifically at those who will go on to represent their country, with modules on subjects such as sportsmanship and how to handle the pressures that success can bring. | |
Speaking at the event, Richard Caborn said: “Being a professional sports person in the 21st Century is about more than just athletic prowess and sporting skill. You also need to know how to manage your lifestyle and career off the sporting field. I am delighted that through the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence framework there is now a structure in place to support the professional development of our most hopeful young sporting prospects.” | |
“Sport by its nature is highly competitive and not all talented young athletes who start their programmes will complete them. Skills Active and the LSC have been working to give would-be professionals a sustainable career but with the chance to train in a second. We want to ensure their security and give them a safety net in areas such as sports coaching and other related specialisations.” It is anticipated that approximately 100 young men and women will begin their Apprenticeship in each sport in the first year. The Learning and Skills Council and SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning have worked with Edexcel to develop the qualification. Edexcel offers a range of offers a Firsts, Nationals and Higher Nationals in Sport and Sport & Exercise Sciences focusing on a wide range of areas auch as Performance & Excellence, Exercise & Fitness, Sports Development and Outdoor Education. More details on Edexcel’s range of BTEC qualifications in Sport and Sport & Exercise Sciences can be found at: www.edexcel.org.uk Ends/.. | |
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Saturday Aug 30 2008
