State schools rock by Phil Stevens

======================================================================

Introduction

My old Liverpool University football colleague, Dr Phil Stevens has had a lifetime playing and coaching sport and has been involved in teaching in various capacities and in various sectors of the education system.

Originally from East London, the Olympics at London 2012 has had particular significance for someone who loves East London and Metropolitan Essex. 

Now retired, Phil has tuned his skills to writing and is now about to complete his 4th book.

======================================================================

State schools rock by Phil Stevens

The Government and their friends in the media are carrying out a vicious campaign to discredit school sport. It’s been drummed into us – lack of competition, all must have prizes, and lazy, indolent teachers.

Well – did Jess Ennis, Nicola Adams, Mo Farah, Bradley Wiggins and many others of our Olympic medallists attend fee-paying schools? I don’t think so – not even a decrepit old minor public school – of which there are many.

Let me tell you a story featuring my basketball team from a bog standard comprehensive school in Plymouth. I’d taken on this disparate, but talented bunch of boys in Year 8. My first impression was – keen, very keen, raw talent and plenty of street wise savvy around the court. Within two years these kids were so nearly English Schools champions.

Mainly as a result of their basketball, all the team members stayed on for the 6^th Form. In Year 12 we were drawn away to the elite private sports college, Millfield in the regional final. By this stage the team were unbeatable in the south west and this was a chance to test themselves against the best.

On the journey up to Somerset you could have heard a pin drop in the back of our ancient, but roadworthy, minibus. The players were calmly focussed on the game ahead – quietly listening to their music. My colleague Sarah, a superb PE teacher and gifted coach, who the boys adored, looked at me across the front seat and smiled – everything was just right.

As we warmed up before the match our players were met with real hostility from hundreds of Millfield kids, who had clearly been given time out to cheer on their team. Back to the dressing room for last minute technical instructions and some old style motivational tub-thumping and we were ready. In the minutes before tip-off we could see the boys were pumped up, bursting with pride for their school, especially when the Principle and the Head of 6^th Form suddenly appeared to support their team – all the way from Plymouth.

Two minutes into the 1^st quarter, we were 6-0 up, and from the start of the 2^nd quarter were never less than 20 points ahead in the whole match. The excited and noisy Millfield crowd was reduced to silence as they drifted away in embarrassment. We absolutely hammered this specialist private sports school on their own, much prized court.

We didn’t even win the competition that year, but narrowly lost in the semi-final to – guess who? A state comprehensive from Forest Gate in East London. But that was OK – our best player gained a scholarship in top US basketball college and is now an established professional in the BBA.

This story is repeated all over state schools in the UK, year in year out. Not competitive – bullshit. Inclusive – absolutely. 

Stop the lies and get into schools and see the truth for yourself.

=======================================================================

In this review of Phil's first book from my other blog, GoalsandWickets, on a book about sport in Essex and East London between 1960 and 2000, you can find out all about Phil, his wonderful sporting life and his many achievements in the field of education;

http://goalsandwickets.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/perfect-goalsandwickets-book-sporting.html