Here at the ESPFA we are so grateful to the amazing group of tutors that teach our students and deliver the BTEC course on the education side of the programme.
To showcase some of the excellent tutors the ESPFA boasts, we bring to you ‘Tutors Tales’, a half-termly segment where we sit down with some of our tutors and highlight some of their achievements over past few years and share their backstory. In. this terms edition, we spoke to Witton Albion tutor Laura Moss, Stafford Rangers tutor Luca Giagu and Yate Town tutor, Jamie Henderson.
LAURA MOSS – WITTON ALBION: ‘A Once in a lifetime opportunity’
Q: What was your first teaching/tutoring job and what was it like?
A: My first teaching job was at Barnsley College and it was a BTEC programme that ran alongside both girls and boys football development programme. I also taught off-site provision at Barnsley Football Club to the apprenticeships. This meant I had to teach at various locations and to different abilities. It made me learn very quickly and adapt my teaching methods.
Q: How does the ESPFA help the students involved? Education/work experience/ Links to further education or university etc
A: This is done naturally throughout the two-year programme. We have units such as Work Experience (which prepare the students for different careers, writing out CV’s, job applications, and under-taking work experience) and Sports Coaching (where the students develop an understanding in to the key roles and responsibilities of coaching but also getting real-life experience of coaching too). Every term there are one to one meetings and progress reviews that highlight the various pathways and give guidance on how to access these pathways such as preparing for University and Blended Degrees, therefore assisting with their UCAS statements. We also have various people come in to talk about Football Scholarships to give them the necessary contacts to be able to pursue this.
Q: What would you say to someone about to apply to the course?
A: I would say that it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, where else would you get to play football 4 times a week with the quality of coaching from a UEFA A/B licensed coach and an excellent academic team to help support and guide you through your BTEC.
LUCA GIAGU – STAFFORD RANGERS: ‘I have witnessed first-hand the growth and impact we have had on young people's lives’
Q: How did You get involved with the ESPFA?
A: I became involved with the ESPFA when it was in its second year of running the pilot programme and started the partnership with PM Training. At the time it was called the NPLFA and only had around five clubs involved so I have witnessed first-hand the growth and impact we have had on young people's lives.
Q: What made you want to become a Tutor for the ESPFA?
A: I believe the ESPFA offer a unique programme to young people, something that unfortunately was not around when I was younger because I certainly would have been enrolled on the programme as a learner. It gives young people the opportunity to carry on playing the sport they love in a structured and competitive environment with ample progression routes after their achievement. So, for me has been a no brainer I get to be involved in both aspects of my passion education and football.
Q: What is the most rewarding thing about being a tutor for the ESPFA?
A: The most rewarding thing about being a tutor for the ESPFA is witnessing these young people grow and develop into very committed, dedicated, and respectful young men who can progress and achieve in their future lives. As a tutor, inner satisfaction comes from learners achieving higher than they originally expected especially those that would have not been allowed on the course at other educational establishments due to their school achievement.
JAMIE HENDERSON – YATE TOWN: ‘A varied programme which incorporates education, football and work experience opportunities’
Q: What previous experience do you have as a tutor?
A: I am now in my 5th year as a tutor. In this period, I have taught on BTEC Level 2, BTEC Level 3, Hight National Certificate and Hight National Diploma courses. My first tutoring job was with a sports college called Forest Sports Education, which was a very similar set up to the ESPFA, however, the programme was only based at one site.
Q: What’s the most rewarding thing about being a tutor for the ESPFA?
A: The most rewarding element of being a tutor for the ESPFA is being able to help shape the future of our players, many of which have huge potential both from a sporting and academic perspective. I have had a very enjoyable experience so far as a tutor working with the students at Yate Town and Swindon Supermarine, as many have excelled within a classroom environment, whilst the banter has been top class!
Q: What made you want to become a Tutor for the ESPFA?
A: I wanted to become a tutor for the ESPFA as I liked how expansive the programme is, which gives lots of opportunities for networking and professional development. The ESPFA helps students to get involved through offering a varied programme which incorporates education, football and work experience opportunities.