Blackpool Football Club visits Palatine.

At the start of this half term we were delighted to welcome the Blackpool first team footballers to Palatine. The team plus their Manager Ian Holloway and the Director of the football club Gavin Steele spent the afternoon visiting lessons, delivering assemblies and meeting with pupils and staff.

Ian Holloway gave a fantastic assembly presentation to all of the pupils which proved very inspirational on Year 9 pupil commented “the assembly was very motivating. He gave a down to earth approach to school, speaking to pupils at their level” and another stated “the assembly was funny, he said if you set your mind to it you can achieve what you want to achieve” The manager certainly made a lasting impression on many of our pupils.

During lessons time the players visited most areas of the school, they assisted with a primary sports festival being run by one of our Year 1 BTEC Sport classes, they went into Science lessons and discussed healthy eating and preparation for sport.

In English the players assisted with reading and allowed the Year 10 pupils to interview them as part of their work on media.

In the Year 7 learning base the players were part of a discussion that took place on tragedy using the Hillsborough Disaster as an example.

Players also visited Design Technology, Modern Languages, Expressive Arts and Maths. Some of the players even had a go on our climbing wall.

The players themselves seemed to really enjoy the visit and commented on how important it was for them to get themselves out into the community and help to raise the aspirations of young people in the town.

At the end of the afternoon the players were very accommodating and willingly stayed beyond the school day to meet pupils and sign autographs.

A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all and hopefully this is just the start of our partnership work with Blackpool Football Club as they become one of Palatines Trust School Partners.

Pictures and video courtesy of the BBC.