Pearson TQ to Deliver Sports and Skills at AFC

Each year up to 1,344 school leavers aged 16 to 18 commence their initial career training at the Army Foundation College (AFC) Harrogate, before they go on to further training as an adult entrant and from there to full time positions across the Army. The College’s motto is Building the Army’s Future and Pearson TQ is proud to be part of that future.

Pearson TQ hold the Education Contract at the college which includes Function Skills in English, Maths and ICT and Leadership and Initiative Training. This new contract is to deliver a developmental Sports and Skills package to meet key elements of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and to support up to 300 Junior Soldiers (JS) per session delivered on four sessions, each week over a 21 week period. There is also a requirement for a competition-based sports session over 6 weekends of the 21 week programme. The Sports and Skills that will be delivered include:

• Football
• Squash
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Clay Pigeon Shooting 
• Small Bore Shooting
• Orienteering
• Triathlon 
• Cross Country/Athletics
• Bagpipes
• Drums
• Survival
• Karate

Sport has been an integral part of soldiering in the British Army for almost as long as records exist. Sport develops physical and mental fitness and produces officers and soldiers who are better motivated, more robust and more able to withstand the physical and psychological stress of operations.

At the heart of the Army and everything that its regiments, corps and soldiers stand for, are its Values and Standards. Participation in sport plays an important role in developing in individuals the values of selfless commitment, courage, discipline, integrity, loyalty and respect for others. It helps to embed a better understanding of the need for appropriate behavior, the requirement to act lawfully at all times and to be totally professional.

Additionally, sport provides an effective means of motivating and improving the fitness of members of the younger generation, many of whom have had little or no exposure to institutional physical activity and plays an import role in recruiting and retention.