Saracens in Schools

HITZ

HITZ is Premiership Rugby’s flagship programme and is divided into two strands; HITZ On Track and HITZ Learning Academy.

HITZ On Track is aimed at 14-16 year olds and is an in-school provision that is made up of an issue-based session and a practical rugby based session. Various topics are covered in the issue-based session including nutrition, confidence and self-esteem building, drug and alcohol awareness and other sessions that highlight pertinent issues facing young people today.

HITZ Learning Academy is our education and traineeship provision for 16-24 year olds who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The learning academy is a full time education programme and offers Functional Maths and English to Level 2, a variety of sports and coaching qualifications, various workshops such as, CV building, work experience, as well as a varied and engaging enrichment programme.

We run multiple cohorts, recruiting at different stages of the academic year, typically starting in September and February to maximise our impact with NEET young people within the community. The aim of the programme is to positively engage young people and support them to build their confidence, resilience and aspirations through a range of qualifications and experience, ultimately helping to build a brighter future.

In 2019 SCL Education & Training expanded their partnership with Premiership Rugby to become the exclusive education partner for the award-winning employability programme. Managing all educational aspects of the Premiership Rugby HITZ programme, leading providers of education through sport, SCL, have more than 15 years’ experience in delivering a range of forward thinking and successful education and sports development programmes for young adults.

Go Forward

Go Forward is a programme that aims to provide opportunities on and off the pitch for those students that need that extra boost. It’s about creating a sense of belonging and family, by creating a unique culture using sport and recreation as the tool to succeed.

Go Forward takes place three days a week, during school and after school, with our dedicated Go Forward Officer offering outstanding pastoral and behavioural care. The programme builds aspirations in young people, whilst working on their ability to deal with challenging environments and situations.

It projects inclusiveness, allowing students to interact with peer groups of different backgrounds and abilities, it creates lifelong social and coping strategies, but more so, allows young people to appreciate their communities, school and families. You ‘can’ with Go Forward.

Rugby 4 Life

‘Rugby 4 Life’ aims to provide primary school aged children across Hertfordshire, Barnet and North London with a positive introduction to rugby as well as a pathway to participation through their local grassroots club.

The programme starts with one of our popular, non-competitive tag rugby festivals hosted by a local club and officiated by year 9/10/11 sports leaders. The focus for the festival is on skill development, game understanding but most importantly having fun! All attendees leave the festival with a smile on their face as well as a ‘Rugby 4 Life’ invitation to a pathway session at the club where they will meet the coaches, become familiar with the facilities and take part in a fun rugby session run by the club and assisted by Saracens Foundation staff.

Rugby 4 Life aims to create the chance and opportunity for young people to access and be a part of rugby, for life. As a Foundation we have a drive to give young people from traditional and non-traditional sporting backgrounds an avenue into local grassroot clubs, while also working with and developing sporting champions in those clubs to continue inspiring those who come through or engage with the Rugby 4 Life programme.

During our Rugby 4 Life pathway sessions, your local grassroot rugby club will take ownership of our young people’s continued positive experience through fun and exciting rugby sessions, followed by a club experience in which those new surroundings are explored. The Saracens Foundation will aim to understand further why young people don’t join their local grassroot club and work hard to solve the barriers for young people accessing their local club.

To get involved is quite simple, get in touch with your local School Sports Network and ask about the next Saracens Foundation Rugby 4 Life Tag Festival. If there isn’t one scheduled then get in touch with Michaeldobson@saracens.net to find out where your nearest local Rugby 4 Life Festival is taking place.

SARRIES IN MY SCHOOL

Saracens Foundation’s “Sarries in My School” programme provides a bespoke schedule of sport and physical activity. Sessions run before, during and after the school day and we cater for a range of age groups. Our key aim is to provide opportunities for children to lead healthy and active lifestyles.

The programme is tailored to suit each school’s needs and offers a variety of session options including whole-school assemblies, taster sessions, days of activity or a series of high quality coaching sessions with appropriately qualified rugby, cheerleading, dance and athletics coaches. The service is flexible and can be funded by the school or the parents.