Premier League Primary Stars helps teachers to tackle tough conversations in the classroom
Premier League Primary Stars is launching a series of free teacher training webinars to give teachers the tools they need to tackle difficult conversations in the classroom.
Three, 45-minute-long webinars exploring issues such as diversity, LGBTQ+ allyship and maths anxiety will be available free of charge to all teachers in England and Wales, via the Premier League Primary Stars website.
Alongside industry experts, BAMEed Network, and a panel of teachers, the first free webinar in the series – Empowering Discussions on anti-racism – will air on Tuesday 7 March. In response to recent research conducted by Education Support, in which 94% of teachers stated that they would benefit from training on how to tackle anti-racism discussions in the classroom, the webinar will offer practical guidance on how to speak confidently on race, using the power of football to ease pupils into open conversations.
The webinars continue the Premier League’s commitment to using the appeal of football and the reach of its clubs to support anti-racism education, through the Premier League Primary Stars programme.
Premier League Primary Stars No Room For Racism resources, focusing on allyship, racial stereotyping, online abuse and inclusion, are available free of charge to every school in England and Wales, through the Premier League’s flagship primary education programme. More than 8,900 teachers and 267,000 young people have engaged with the resources to date.
For Laleham Church of England primary school teacher and Diversity Lead, Kelly Rowan, the Premier League Primary Stars No Room For Racism resources have not only built teacher confidence they have been invaluable in facilitating tough conversations on anti-discrimination in her classroom.
“I started using Premier League Primary Stars when I began teaching five years ago. I saw an opportunity to use the power of football to inspire my class on topics including racism and diversity, as well as using the resources to support physical activity, maths and English lessons.
“When I joined Laleham CofE Primary School I introduced the resources to the school, and we quickly used them as a focal point to link into key awareness months, such as Black History Month or No Room For Racism. We have seen, specifically in the past few years, multiple situations worldwide that demonstrate a need for continued education.
“The response from our pupils has been so good. They’ve taken it on board and said they don’t understand why people from different ethnic backgrounds are treated differently. Racism is a heavy topic to tackle, and it can understandably cause emotional responses, so the fact that the resources are engaging, make the subject relatable and are easy to use enables us as teachers to facilitate discussions on important topics that pupils will remember.
“The ready-made resources from Premier League Primary Stars offer a great level of support to teachers. Incorporating real-life scenarios and players helps because pupils see a recognisable figure talking about an important subject. It engages them, even those pupils who are less engaged in football, when they see a team badge or a player they know.
“I’d recommend the Premier League Primary Stars No Room For Racism resource to other teachers looking to facilitate discussions on racism in their classes. It’s important that schools teach pupils about racism and how to be an ally. When resources like Premier League Primary Stars provide you with high-quality supporting material and save time, for me, incorporating them into the classroom is one of the easiest decisions to make.”
As well as the No Room For Racism resources, the free Premier League Primary Stars programme provides teachers with access to resources across English, PSHE, PE and Maths, to support children to develop skills and values that are crucial to success in later lif
The downloadable curriculum-linked resources are available across a range of at Key Stage 1 (age 5-7) and Key Stage 2 (age 7-11), developed by teachers for teachers, and in collaboration with experts, including the National Literacy Trust.
Resources can be used off-the-shelf or tailored to suit teachers’ needs. More than 60,000 teachers have downloaded and used the free curriculum-linked resources since the programme began.
Teachers who sign up and attend one of the Premier League Primary Stars teacher training webinars, will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a Premier League Trophy visit for their school.
To sign up to the free Premier League Primary Stars webinars, or to access more than 640 free Premier League Primary Stars resources, please visit https://www.plprimarystars.com/
