Northampton Saints’ community team are expanding their work this season, taking programmes like Aviva Tackling Numbers into new areas of Northamptonshire.
This term has seen 10 schools in Corby work with the Saints, with both Aviva Tackling Numbers and On The Front Foot being delivered to primary and secondary schools respectively.
Aviva Tackling Numbers is an engaging rugby-themed numeracy programme in association with Aviva that makes learning about numbers fun, exciting and rewarding for 7-to-9-year-olds. Meanwhile On The Front Foot uses rugby’s core values to develop positive character traits in 11-to-18-year-olds through the use of rugby-themed classroom and practical activities.
One such school receiving Aviva Tackling Numbers sessions is Little Stanion Primary School, who were also visited by Saints winger Tom Collins this week, and deputy head teacher Claudia Frost says that the programme is giving the school’s youngsters a boost.
“We’re a relatively new school so haven’t set up the kind of links with sports clubs that more established schools have done,” she said. “So it’s great to be engaging with the Saints like this and to see them working in Corby.
“The kids have really embraced Aviva Tackling Numbers and are buzzing every time we have a session. They’re always asking ‘are we doing rugby today?’ and have been enthusiastic about both the classroom and practical sessions – whatever the weather!”
Saints community coach Connor Fleming says that it is important for the club to be working in new areas of the county.
“We’ve been delivering primarily in Northampton over the past few years, but have been looking to expand this year into new areas, like Corby,” he commented. “It’s important for us to be expanding the ‘brand’, so to speak, to get rugby into as many schools as possible.
“For us as a community department we want the projects to have a lasting effect and having a positive impact on the students we work with.
“We take pride in that as we deliver our sessions.”
The Saints community team and Study Centre use rugby to support schools across the curriculum, from maths and English to drama and science. To see the full range of what is available head to www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/education.
More pictures from the day are available now on the Saints' official Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.
