School becomes UK’s first to run innovative student leadership and post COVID-19 fitness scheme

By Liam Drury

An academy has become the UK’s first to implement an innovative student leadership course combined with a post-Covid health and fitness boost.

The King Alfred’s School Academy in Highbridge, Somerset has installed an Inspired Playground full of amazing physical education tools to boost Year 7 fitness and develop leadership skills in the sixth formers.

The initiative has been implemented for the school by Inspired Schools, run by former semi-professional footballer Ben Kirk.

It has become the only one of its kind in a secondary school in the UK.

Excellent Leadership training

Ben said: “You’ve got children here who are on their BTECs or their sport science A-Levels as sixth formers who, as part of their course, have to run and lead events that they are in charge of. 

“There’s no staff involvement at all, the older children here are completely running it on their own”.

Physical Literacy

Head of PE at TKASA Kate Clough said: “This is a fantastic initiative. It aids the transition to work on fundamentals and physical literacy that our students have potentially missed out on during Covid years at primary school. 

“It’s great to be working with Ben and for our sixth formers and leaders to be experiencing this as well.”

The TKASA sixth form is part of The Priory Learning Trust and is one of Britain’s best.

Cambridge and Oxford universities

Due to it success, in the last two years the numbers studying at the Sixth Form has grown by over 100% with a 100% exam pass rate, and with 80% going to Russell Group Universities.

This year, three students are heading off to study at Cambridge and Oxford universities. 

The Sixth Form has benefitted from significant investment since joining TPLT and the facilities for students are outstanding. 

Anyone looking to study A-levels in a high performing Sixth Form is encouraged to take a look at the  website https://www.tkasa.org.uk and to make contact with Mr Gaskell via email jgaskell@tkasa.org.uk