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Fishing hits the curriculum

The sleepy Shropshire town of Wem – derided locally for being little more than the home of the sweet pea society – has hit the news after the town’s comprehensive became the first school in the country to put fishing on its curriculum. “And why not?” asks Lynne Edwards, the Year 11 Head Teacher whose energy is driving the initiative. “You need to keep making school interesting - particularly for the boys - and fishing has proved a way of doing so.” (Daily Telegraph – August 2005)

“Academically, the school is way above the national average. But some children need a bit more”, says The Thomas Adams School’s Head Teacher, Tony Stephens. “And if we can give them something that motivates them, then they benefit, teachers benefit and the school benefits.”

Lynne stumbled upon the idea a couple of years ago. Having already taken groups of children skateboarding and ice-skating, she casually asked if anyone wanted to take part in a fishing competition.

“I was amazed at the number that came forward”, she says. “Some of them weren’t interested in other sports, like football, so I thought it was worth pursuing.”

And now, after an exhaustive 18-month trial - during which the school experimented with different age groups, introduced a few health and safety measures (protection goggles in case of the odd loose fly!) and got wise to some kids just using it to bunk off maths - the project is ready to go live.

From the start of the next school year, as part of Key Stage 3, all of the school’s 11-14 year olds will have the chance to go fly-fishing at a nearby fishery. If they like it they can then do a four-week course lasting half a day each week, during which they will learn about fishing, ecology and the countryside.

Those who want to can then continue it at Key Stage 4, where sports such as fishing, along with other components such as community service, can qualify towards a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness - what Tony Stephens calls ‘an in-school version of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.’

The certificate - equivalent at the highest level to a B grade GCSE - was created by the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network, in Bristol, and has recently received accreditation from the government’s Qualifying Curriculum Authority.

Tony anticipates that about two-thirds of the children will take up the chance to have a go and half might then continue. But after that it will be down to the children to pursue, in the evenings and weekends.

“I am not taking them out of GCSE classes or A levels”, says the tough-talking Head.

Much of the success of the trial and the confidence in its prospects has been down to the fact that the initiative meets the priorities of what are four organisations in an equally funded partnership. Thomas Adams School are proud to be offering something new to the children, and of interest. The hosts, Dearnford Trout Fishery, and the Salmon & Trout Association, who are providing the equipment, are pleased to be reaching out to a group under-represented among anglers. And the Environment Agency, whose job it is to promote the sport, believes the way to educate people about the environment is through a sport they enjoy.

Indeed, many of the children are completely hooked.

Twelve-year-old Henry Wilson is one of several children from local traveller families. The Head describes their 90%+ attendance record as ‘amazing’ and says fishing is one of the factors that keeps them coming.

“It’s a chance to find out about the outside world. You learn patience and stuff”, says the young and thoughtful Henry. “Without patience”, he warns me, “you can end up a nervous wreck when you are older.”

From the same year group, Jo White is one of the lucky ones who have caught a rainbow trout, and whose excitement for the sport is still bubbling.

“You learn about the environment and how fish breathe”, he tells me.

“You see – it dovetails in with academic teaching”, says the Head.

The sport also seems to have rubbed off on the children’s career choices. Jo says he wants to be a teacher who does fishing. And among the GCSE year group, Sam Roberts has set his eyes on the Environment Agency and the quietly confident Dan Whittall is off to college to study Fish Farming.

Lynne Edwards admits that some of the staff room were sceptical about the project at first, but having seen the fishing in action they have been impressed as to how – when children of different ages are paired up to fish together – it has brought out team working and introduced social skills.

“It’s great to see the children helping one another and take an interest in what each of them has caught”, says Lynne. “And now the teachers are queuing up to have a go!”

Positive feedback also extends to the parents.

“I have had nothing but praise”, says Tony Stephens. The only opposition has been 20 or so e-mails from anti-angling groups. But the astute Head has bought them off by deciding that in future any fish that are caught will be put back.

“Personally I can’t stand fishing”, says the vegetarian Head Teacher. “But if the children get 50 years pleasure out of it, or a better understanding of the ecology and countryside around them, then I’m a happy man.”

STANDALONE BOX

One of the current priorities of the Salmon and Trout Association is to introduce more young people to fishing, through its 50 or so branches across the UK
• Many branches organise courses for beginners, and other tuition sessions
• They organise ‘Fishing for Fun Days’ - with fly-tying and other demonstrations, casting competitions and ‘have-a-go’ opportunities
• The S&TA is a UK-wide membership organisation, that was formed in 1903
• For more details - www.salmon-trout.org
 

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