You may have seen the advert for the Premier League’s new ‘Primary Stars’ project on your TVs over the past couple of weeks – which is a programme that we’re proud to be a part of, delivering to primary schools across Gwent. As part of the English aspect of the project, we are currently working in partnership with Monmouth Comprehensive School to construct a new literacy programme to help improve youngsters’ learning and enjoyment in the subject. To help form some of the content, County in the Community spent the day with renowned BBC commentator Rob Phillips, former Exiles striker turned summariser Nathan Blake and current County front-man Lenell John-Lewis.
The trio visited Monmouth Comprehensive School in the morning to take part in a question and answer session with some of the school’s keen footballers, as well as giving some advice and guidance of their own in relation to their current roles in football and how literacy is a key feature. Rob spoke about his experience in working for the BBC covering Wales during the Summer in France, Nathan gave an insight about the transition from professional footballer to working in media and Lenell told us about the importance of literacy in the modern-day game.
From Monmouth the next stop was Milton Primary School, Nathan’s old school! Pupils were treated to a special PSHE assembly where Rob, Nathan and Lenell talked about their journey and the importance of being ambitious and working hard. The day then finished off with the guys visiting the Junior School pupils in their classrooms to answer more questions about their work in football.
School Sport Coordinator, Dan Harvey said. ‘’It was a great event for County in the Community and we’d like to thank Rob, Nathan and Lenell for giving up their own time to spend the whole day with us. We’re really excited about the literacy project, as it’ll be a great opportunity for youngsters in Gwent, who may not usually thrive in a classroom environment, to relate to the subject through football and the many ways it’s used in the industry, hopefully providing an avenue for them to reach their full potential in English. We’d also like to thank the staff at Monmouth who we’re working with to construct the project, Paul Hancocke and Head of English Nick Young have been really enthusiastic towards working together with County in the Community to put the plans in place and we’re very excited to see the finished article later this year.’’
school through the delivery of the PL Primary Stars programme then please get in touch with Dan Harvey via emailyourIf you’d like to find out how County in the Community could benefit dan.harvey@newport-county.co.uk