PUPILS BECOME COACHES
Paul Bolton, Midlands Press Officer
THE REPUTATION of the Cedars Coaching Academy at the Cedars Upper School in Leighton Buzzard was enhanced recently during a week of sessions run by RFU coaches. The coach educators, headed by Dick Tilley and including Alex Hadley and Sam Rouse, the RFU Rugby Development Officers for East Midlands, delivered a coaching academy at the school in which 29 people, most of them pupils at the Cedars, took part in a level one coaching course and the Entry Level Referee Award.
This was the second time that such a course had been held at the Cedars but with increased participation from 2007. �Cedars Coaching Academy has developed a winning formula in the delivery of coach and referee education,� Rouse said.
"For the last two years the coaching qualifications offered have been inundated with applications, which clearly show that the demand is there. These opportunities give local students and club volunteers the opportunity to achieve their first coaching and refereeing qualifications."
"The opportunities that Cedars Coaching Academy are offering has also greatly helped local rugby clubs such as Leighton Buzzard RFC. It has meant that they have been able to upskill their volunteer workforce as they are currently working towards the RFU Seal of Approval status which aims to provide minimum operating standards across many aspects of club development such as coaching, refereeing and club management. The Coaching Academy has enabled the club and local players the opportunity to train their workforce and gain qualifications on their own door step."
"I am positive that this will only go from strength-to-strength over the coming years and no doubt we will see more courses added to the schedule in the future.�
The Cedars Coaching Academy is open to anyone in the country via its website. There were 24 different sporting and coaching courses at the academy in 2008 from the popular RFU courses to racquet stringing.
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Press release Leighton Buzzard Citizen
Thursday 22 January 2009
COMMUNITY PARTNER FOOTBALL AWARD FOR CEDARS UPPER SCHOOL
In recognition of its work in producing football coaches through the Cedars Coaching Academy, Cedars Upper School has been awarded the Football Association Community Partner Award.
Kevin England and James Slack from Bedfordshire FA presented the award to Andrew Warren, Headteacher at Cedars, during an informal ceremony this week.
In October half term 2009 the Academy will be providing a whole programme of football related courses including Junior Football Organiser, refereeing; Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Coach; Football Injuries and Coaching for Teachers. These courses will be on our new website in February www.cedarscoachingacademy.com. Book Early to avoid disappointment.
Kevin England and James Slack
presenting the FA Community Partner Award to Andrew Warren
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Press Release Leighton Buzzard Citizen
Thursday 4 December 2008
RUGBY AWARD FOR CEDARS
Cedars Upper School has been designated a ‘Coach Education Centre’ by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in recognition of its work in producing coaches through the Cedars Coaching Academy.
Nick Scott, Director of Coaching at East Midlands RFU presented the award to Andrew Warren, Headteacher at Cedars, during an informal ceremony last week.
In just over a period of twelve months, sixty-two coaches and eleven referees have qualified through Cedars Academy. More rugby courses will be available early in the New Year with the launch of the new website: www.cedarscoachingacademy.com. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Nick Scott presenting the Coach Education Award to Andrew Warren
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As published in the Leighton Buzzard Observer Tuesday 20 November 2007
and Leighton Buzzard Citizen on Thursday 22 November 2007
Some of Cedars students newly qualified sports� coaches gather in front of the school pavilion with Headteacher Mr A Warren.
After more than a year of planning, the inaugural �Cedars Coaching Academy� took place during
the recent October half term. The week attracted in excess of 100 hopefuls from all over the country,
including students, players, teachers and coaches. Cedars can now boast a pool of 26 qualified coaches
across a wide range of sports.
This is a unique, innovative and exciting area of development for the Linslade school and next year�s
academy promises to be even bigger and better. Preparations are well underway for October 2008 and
opportunities as diverse as rock climbing, basketball, squash and snowboarding, will be available alongside
all of the favourites from this year, with many on offer at Level I and Level II. First Aid and
Referees courses will also feature for the first time.
Full details of the programme for October 2008 will be posted early in the New Year at www.cedarscoachingacademy.com
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News Release from Bedfordshire County Council
12 September 2007
LOCAL SCHOOL IS COACHING SUCCESS
This October half term, a local Bedfordshire school will be offering a qualification that is a world away from the normal academic subjects.
Cedars Upper School in Leighton Buzzard will launch the Cedars Coaching Academy on 22nd October 2007. The
academy offers students an alternative, vocational pathway in physical education that results in a coaching
qualification. Coaching courses in canoeing, rugby union, golf, badminton, cricket, football, swimming and
tennis are available, as well as a lifeguard qualification.
The academy is unique, as no other mainstream school in the UK offers this type of sporting
opportunity.
Places at the academy are open to everyone and not just students at the school. Such people could
include students from other schools, parents, university students and members of local sports clubs. All
people need to do is meet the sport-specific criteria for their chosen course.
Councillor Rita Drinkwater, Bedfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education said: �This is an excellent idea and a great way for people to turn their passion for sport into a worthy qualification. The choice of courses is excellent and I am sure there is something to suit all sports people out there!�
