As the CEO of EdStart Schools, a provider of special educational needs and alternative provision schools in the North West, my mission is to ensure that every young person can aspire to the same heights as those in mainstream education.
Over the years I have become convinced that a sports-focused mindset is a powerful vehicle to achieve this. This comes, in part, from my time as a sports teacher, when I saw, first hand, the skills that team sports instil - self-motivation, resilience, teamwork and leadership.
These qualities are not only essential on the field but also in the classroom - and life in general. This belief has led us to actively seek out and employ former professional sportspeople, transforming the educational experience for our students.
Schools recruiting sports professionals
One of our earliest hires in this area was Steven Hogg, a former Manchester United footballer, who applied for a job to help deliver our Btec in sport.
We could see that he would be a good fit when he discussed teamwork philosophy with the mantra “We’re all in it as a team, and we’re all going to win”. And I was confident his sporting background would resonate with the students.
Indeed, his openness and refusal to pigeonhole the students created an environment where every student felt valued and included. Steven progressed from mentor and teaching assistant to a fully qualified teacher and is now an education leader in primary school PE.
Buoyed by Steven’s success, we continued to seek out individuals from sports backgrounds - and, in fact, some have come to us.
More on staff management:
For example, Stuart Howarth, our headteacher at EdStart in Wigan, is a former professional rugby league player who approached us because he heard that we were seeking teachers with sporting experience and he was keen to get into teaching. We gave him a foot in the door and he started teacher training with us.
Stuart’s sportsmanship as a rugby player translates into effective leadership. Accepting that not everyone can perform every day, he balances supporting students through tough days while maintaining high expectations for everyone.
Meanwhile, Lee Jewitt, a rugby league professional-turned-counsellor, is a great example of how sports professionals can support students’ emotional and academic needs.
Lee employs the “resetting” example, which he has brought from his professional sports career, to teach resilience. When he made a mistake in rugby, like dropping the ball, he had a small gesture to reset and move on.
He teaches students that they can reset at any point during the day and not carry the weight of their mistakes.
Tales from the touchline
Perhaps our most notable hire is current Oldham Athletic Football Club manager Micky Mellon, who is our director of leadership and culture.
Micky, who has also managed Tranmere Rovers and Dundee United, has brought a wealth of experience from his time in football management.
I was introduced to him when he co-authored The First 100 Days: lessons In leadership from the football bosses with a headteacher friend and football fan, Phil Denton.
The two started swapping stories about their own leadership roles and I invited Micky to bring their ideas to life in EdStart Schools. His training helped us to create a culture of conscious leadership and meticulous planning, benefiting both staff and students.
Of course, being a full-time football manager means he can’t always be in school, but thanks to video calls, he can balance school visits and travel commitments as required, even conducting coaching sessions online.
He will spend an hour with students before football training, participate in team meetings remotely and return to school afterwards to work with the students. He also offers coaching to our leaders after school hours, too.
Micky’s personal story of using football as an escape from a challenging childhood resonates deeply with our students. He sees himself in them and encourages them to seize their opportunities, just as he did.
Give it a shot
Not every trust may be able to work with a full-time football coach but, more generally, employing sports professionals in an AP setting has been a game-changer for EdStart Schools.
These individuals bring transferable skills, a positive and engaging approach and a genuine desire to make a difference in young people’s lives.
I would highly recommend anyone seeking such attributes to consider how to engage sportspeople naturally attuned to these qualities.
James Lowe is CEO of EdStart Schools
