Archery in Schools

Archery is an Olympic Sport and one that saw English Archers win many medals at the recent Commonwealth Games, there are a number of characteristics that influence archery's growing popularity in schools:

Appeals to all abilities, sporty and non-sporty!

Great Fun!

Easy to learn!

Life long sport

Individual and Team Sport

All year round (Participation & Competition)

Easy to arrange

Great for semi and non sporty children, it is a sport which helps develop concentration and coordination and gives a real sense of achievement. Archery is already a success in the USA where studies have shown that students who participated in archery, enjoyed school more, showed improvements in behaviour, attendance and achievement at school.

Much of the work we do in schools is carried out in partnership with Deer Park Archers, we are all members of that club and indeed we all have committee roles with Steph being Club Head Coach, Dan being Head Junior Coach and Roger the Club Development Officer. This partnerships allows us to dedicate a large amount of time to the activity, whilst using the equipment and resources of the club to ensure a top class experience and which has contributed to Deer Park Archers winning the 2011 Sport and Recreation Alliance National Sports Club of the Year Award! Deer Park Archers also won the Gloucestershire Echo 2010 Young Sports Club of the Year Award, so working with young people is what we do on a regular basis.

What can we support?

- the creation and running of after-school archery clubs, from 6 week to every week programmes! We operate to Governing Body standards, provide the equipment to support beginners and improvers and have a range of skills and experience to support all levels of ability. Having accumulated so much experience working with young people we can provide a safe, fun, learning environment with a flexibility of coaching techniques and games to suit all individuals and groups. We also support the development of the school representatives (teachers, assistants etc) to ensure the club can become sustainable. We also run an established inter-schools competition every term with individual and school team awards.

- running school activity day programmes. One off 'have a go" events, during school time for sessions of 1 hour or more as an introduction to the sport. Where possible we will adapt the programme to your needs. Contact us for more details.

- supporting GCSE, D of E or other recognised programmes including the Archery GB Progress Award which is linked in with the Key Stages.

-Active Inclusion events.

Can we provide references?

Most certainly, we run after-school clubs every day of the week, so can provide a long list of schools you are welcome to contact. You can also contact Archery GB and our Community Sports Partnership (Active Gloucestershire) for further references.

Insurance, CRB's, risk assessments, costs, general procedures and all the other questions.

We have all the answers, just contact us and once we understand your requirements we can provide you with the answers.

A few of the schools we have worked in:

Balcarras School

Archway School

Sir William Romneys

Katherine Lady Berkeleys

Kingshill School

Cleeve School

Shurdington Primary School

Hillview Primary

Sapperton Primary School

Abbeymead Primary School

Longney Primary

Callowell Primary

Whitminster Centre

Alderman Knight

Paternoster School

High School for Girls

Stroud High School

Millbrook Academy

Barnwood Park

Bournside 

Chosen Hill

Benhall Infants

Numerous Schools for the Gloucester School Sports Network

Arrows Young Leader Award

Feedback:

'I love archery, it has helped with my confidence, Maths, and I've made lots of new friends at the after school club'. Pupil, Balcarras

'Just wanted to thank you all - Dan, Steph and Roger for a super session in the Forest of Dean today! Friendly, professional and really good fun!' School games organiser. 

'I would like to say what an honour it is to be apart of this after school club.' Pupil, Archway School

'Thank you for your support. This is the first sport ever that I have enjoyed and what was best was that everyone helped each other, so this felt like a team sport as well as an individual challenge' Pupil, Kingshill

'The pupils love it. The problem we have is that they will not stop talking about it and those that want to do it keep on asking when they can start!' Teacher, Balcarras

'Thank you so much for the archery. The children loved it!' Teacher, Rowanfield school.

'Thank you very much for this afternoon, we all had a great time!' Teacher, Hatherop School.

'Many thanks for putting on the archery for our children, I know they really enjoyed it and the club was oversubscribed as there was so much interest. We look forward to running it again next year.' Teacher, Bourton-on-the-water primary school.

'I've noticed that there aren't many holes in the outer bits of the targets but there are lots in the middle. This must mean you're really good coaches.' Pupil, Ann Edwards

"Thanks ever so much we all had a great time, you are great with our students, thank you for your patience". Teacher, Stroud College 

"Thank you for coming to our school to teach us about archery for our Olympic Focus Week, we all enjoyed your amazing skills in archery and some of us are joining archery clubs because you have encouraged us to do a new sport". Year 5, Manorbrook Primary

"This was the best experience that happened to this school whilst I have been there". Year 5, Manorbrook Primary

"The children absolutely loved it and all the staff commented on how well set up you are, how professional and knowledgeable and what a great session they had." Croft Primary