Sports Leardership
Intent Statement – Sports Leadership Programme
The Sports Leadership Programme at FreshSteps is designed to empower students through sport by developing confidence, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. The programme aims to provide learners with nationally recognised qualifications while fostering personal growth, resilience, and responsibility. Through practical leadership opportunities and structured learning, students are encouraged to become positive role models within school and the wider community.
By offering qualifications such as the EE Playmaker Course, Young Leader Award, Level 1 Sports Leadership, and Level 2 Community Sports Leadership, the programme creates clear progression pathways for students of all abilities and interests. The intent is to inspire young people to take an active role in sport and physical activity, while equipping them with transferable skills that support future education, employment, volunteering, and community engagement.
A key intention of the programme is to use sport as a vehicle to create harmony, unity, and positive relationships across the Enfield community. Through inter-school football fixtures, leadership events, and community sports activities, students are encouraged to build friendships, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging with young people from different schools and backgrounds. Rather than viewing one another as rivals, students are supported to see sport as an opportunity for collaboration, respect, and shared success.
Through our sports curriculum, FreshSteps is committed to promoting football and physical activity as positive alternatives to anti-social behaviour and gang-related violence. The programme seeks to develop a culture of inclusion, discipline, teamwork, and community cohesion, helping young people make positive choices while strengthening relationships within the local community.
Implementation Statement
The Sports Leadership Programme is delivered through a combination of practical activities, leadership opportunities, written coursework, and nationally recognised qualification pathways. Students participate in structured sessions where they develop the knowledge and skills required to organise, lead, and evaluate sports and physical activities safely and effectively.
Learners work through qualification-specific workbooks and complete a range of practical and written assessments to demonstrate understanding and application of leadership principles. The programme is differentiated to support all learners, with courses delivered flexibly over an extended period where necessary.
The curriculum includes:
• Young Leader Award – introducing students to basic leadership and organisation skills through games and activities.
• Level 1 Qualification in Sports Leadership (SL1) – enabling students to assist in leading purposeful sporting activities under direct supervision.
• Level 2 Qualification in Community Sports Leadership (CSL2) – developing the ability to independently lead safe and engaging sessions within school and community settings.
• EE Playmaker Course – introducing grassroots football leadership and coaching through England Football.
Students are given opportunities to apply their leadership skills in real-life contexts, including school sports events, enrichment activities, local clubs, inter-school competitions, and community partnerships. The programme actively promotes teamwork, respect, inclusion, and positive peer relationships through collaborative sporting opportunities across the local community.
Continuous feedback, reflection, and evaluation are embedded throughout the programme to support personal development and progression. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning while developing the confidence and resilience needed to lead others positively both within school and beyond.
Impact Statement
The Sports Leadership Programme has a positive impact on students by improving self-confidence, communication, organisation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Students develop the ability to lead others responsibly and safely, preparing them for further qualifications, volunteering opportunities, and future employment within sport and beyond.
Through practical leadership experiences, students become more engaged in school life and contribute positively to the wider community. The programme helps learners build resilience, independence, and a sense of achievement through nationally recognised qualifications and real-world leadership experiences.
The programme also has a wider social impact by using sport to strengthen relationships across the Enfield community. Through football and collaborative sporting activities, students develop mutual respect, friendships, and a stronger sense of community cohesion. By promoting teamwork, discipline, and positive engagement, the programme supports efforts to challenge gang culture and reduce community tensions, encouraging young people to make positive lifestyle choices.
Successful completion of the programme enables students to progress onto higher-level leadership qualifications and gain valuable experience working with local sports clubs and organisations. The programme also supports pathways into coaching, sports development, education, and community leadership, while promoting lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.
