NERF Festival

Context, Intent and Target Group

Background Information

My schools had identified a need for offering more opportunities for students who don't take part in traditional sports. I was approached by a company called Active Future who offered to put on a free NERF festival for the schools least active children. Every school that entered also had access to a full days event in their own school.

My partnership has a large number of rural schools with little opportunity for club links. I am a 2 day a week SGO with no budget so I often have to look for free opportunities offered by partner organisations.

What was the aim of work?

The aim of the event was to target those least active pupils who don't usually get the chance to represent their school at a traditional sports competition. I wanted to give the children a positive experience of being active with others and in a sport they might not usually get to try.

Which outcome(s) did it focus on?

• 2. To ensure all competition has a clear intent and creates positive experiences based on the motivation, competence and confidence of the young people that need our support the most
• 4. To support the personal development of targeted young people through youth engagement and leadership
• 5. To advocate and engage key stakeholders on the value of School Games to support local provision and improve the experience for young people and their families

Which expectation(s) did it meet?

• Using the events calendar to upload a termly offer of events and activities with a clear intent, updated once each term.
• Developing a case study to show where you have made the most impact against local priorities, and through effective storytelling share your learning locally and nationally.
• Collaborating with key partners to inform the local and county offer to tackle inequalities and ensuring inclusive and safe practice.
• Work with schools to maintain and grow their active engagement in School Games.
• Work intensively with a minimum of two low engagement schools to improve their understanding, engagement and access of the School Games offer.
• Co-design and deliver a broad and balanced School Games offer that is informed by insight and youth engagement and embeds positive experiences. It is expected that an SGO will facilitate a minimum of 12 targeted inter competitions/events/festivals with clear intent.

Community links

• Community sports clubs
• Leisure providers

Intent

Active Future run after school clubs and HAF clubs in the district. They approached me to ask if they could pilot a NERF competition for free in the area to engage those least active pupils in a fun non traditional way.

The idea was those inactive pupils would hopefully have such a great time that when it then comes to the HAF clubs they would feel comfortable attending having met some of the team and having tried one of the activities they offer.

Having sent out a questionnaire to schools earlier in the year, two of the key findings were, trying non traditional sports and giving opportunities to those pupils that don't normally get the chance.

Target group

• All Young People
• Targeted Groups of Young People

Aligns to Schools Games Intents of:

• Develop confidence and competence within physical activity/sport skills
• Develop leadership, character, life skills
• Engage new/target groups of young people (tackling inequalities)
• Increase regular participation and motivation
• Promote success and achievement
• Build social skills and connections (i.e. sense of belonging)
• Create positive experiences

Implementation

So that pupils wouldn't miss out, any school that wanted to send a team could also have a free all taster day session at school before the festival. This would ensure that more pupils could be engaged and that they felt more confident ahead of the event.

From the taster session the schools were asked to bring 8 of their least active pupils from years 4-6 to take part in the competition.

The event took place in a sports hall and we used leaders from a local college to support the activities. The nerf guns, bullets and cargo nets were provided by the company who also led the event.

The games started with foam bullets scattered around the hall and on 'GO' players had two minutes to collect bullets and plan their attack. The first time, it was every one for themselves but as the games went on, you could see the pupils start to think strategically, work as a team and plan their tactics. They played several games and were scored points for being the last person standing (the school would be awarded the points) and points for the spirit of the games.

Impact

Two other SGOs from the region came to see the event in action and within seconds could see what a great opportunity and event it was for the pupils.

All pupils were active, all pupils were having fun, all pupils wanted more, they all left smiling.

Pupil voice at the event told us, they all enjoyed it and would do it again.

The winning school (pictured) said they are a school that have never won a trophy and it meant more that all the schools that attended were there to support inactive pupils and not attend because they were there to win a competition. The trophy was the icing on the cake after a fantastic day.

When collecting pupil voice at the event. I don't think I've ever had as many "best day ever" comments.

The pupils all left having enjoyed a positive experience of physical activity.

Challenges

The only real challenge was the event was limited to just 8 schools. I have 45 primary schools in my area so on this occasion we did first come first served.

Next year I would use it as a tool to invite those schools who don't usually engage with School Games.

Future challenges may be more schools want to attend after the success of this one, the company may decide to charge for the event.

Due to having a large number of rural schools, we don't have many club links due to lack of clubs which is a challenge. Having more groups/NGBs who could offer free events with intent would be helpful to other SGOs and schools in the same situation.

Sustainability

As long as Active Future are willing to run this event next year it should continue to grow.

The other two SGOs want to run it in their area so we are hoping that next year this could become a pathway event for least active pupils.

Even if Active Future decided to charge an entry fee, while schools receive the premium funding I think they would be willing to pay depending on how much they would charge.

Top tips