We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions on this page to your questions about Fishing for Schools and how to get involved. If you're still unable to find what you need, please contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually is Fishing for Schools
Fishing for Schools exists to help, support, and nurture young people into a world of angling; both as a recreation and a pathway of learning. Our mantra is: Everyone learns differently.
We at Fishing for Schools see no difference between the classroom being in, or outside. All offer a way to achieving knowledge – much of it curricular based – and a signpost to a recreation for life, whilst offering inner calm in an often-turbulent life.
How we make a difference
Fishing for Schools provides a positive learning experience, strengthening teamwork, raising aspirations, engaging pupils in key curriculum subjects.
Fishing is used as a hook, with sessions helping to develop a wide range of skills including communication, problem solving, discipline and resilience.
Young people benefit hugely from enrichment activities outside the classroom setting, helping build confidence, raise aspirations and self-esteem.
Schools - Why take part
Fishing for Schools is a free resource to schools. Delivered over four sessions, we assist schools in delivering their outdoor learning strategy by providing a positive outdoor experience to young people aged 10-16 years. Our programme helps develop key life skills including team building, leadership, enquiry and thinking skills. We help deepen and enrich learning. Sessions are linked to key curriculum subjects with objectives agreed in conjunction with school, staff and students.
How a child benefits
We help young people fulfil their potential. Our programme offers a range of experiences that help your child develop key life skills including team building, leadership, enquiry and thinking skills. We engage young people in key curriculum subjects including engineering, science, geography, cookery, ICT and maths and we make it fun.
Fishing for Schools actively improves academic achievement and enables youngsters to work towards qualifications including:
The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE),
BTEC Qualifications.
AIM Awards
The Angling Trust’s CAST Award.
Our programme also complements the skills section of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards or the Princes Trust Achieve programme.
Who we support
We work directly with schools, focusing on young people in greatest need, including:
Young people struggling to learn in a classroom setting.
Pupils with complex learning and physical disability needs.
Young people with Education, Health and Care plans.
Pupils with additional needs.
Pupils at risk of being excluded.
Young people in Local Authority care.
Pupils identified by schools as lacking in confidence and self-esteem.
Pupils who do not have access to enriching activities outside of school or access to the countryside.
How to get involved
Fishing for Schools offers a multitude of opportunities to assist in the development of young people. Whether it’s through improved self-confidence, a greater sense of worth and self-esteem, or a unique approach to curriculum learning, the programme makes a significant impact.
To get involved, you can donate to the Fishing for Schools programme here. Your support will help us continue to make a difference in the lives of young people.
If you’d like to be part of the 2024/2025 programme, applications will be opening soon. Stay tuned for more information on how to apply.
How do/can you help through fishing
We can easily support young people in a calm, gentle and non-confrontational environment and in doing this, observe and channel areas of young person’s growth in a way that is never observed at school. The pressure is off and that can change things. We have noticed better communication abilities, improved behaviour, and willingness to learn; all of this might be in stark contrast to what is experienced with the usual place of learning.
Surely this is purely a reward for poor learning and bad behaviour
In some ways you are correct. We do use angling as a reward; but there is also an emphasis placed on learning, too. By extending the classroom to the outdoors, we are also avoiding any form of confrontation or disruption within a classroom or campus which could upset mainstream learning. By creating a calm learning environment, Fishing for Schools still allows learning to take place, but in a more reflective setting away from points of disruption. A significant win.
I notice you are part of the Countryside Alliance. Surely that is supporting blood sports
Fishing for Schools has always been part of The Countryside Alliance Foundation and as such, set apart from any politicising or campaign of other areas. It is also worth emphasising that The CA embodies legal activities and proudly supports all areas of rural life – be that riding, shooting, village post offices, farm shops and a host of other countryside activities.
How can fishing ever help young people learn curricular skill
The act of angling encompasses so many areas. From the study of water, the areas surrounding water, the fish themselves and sheer act of casting (Read: physics!) also correctly noting catches and counting various things - even the number of fish you have caught in a session. All of it has a learning capability.
How does my school/child get involved
We currently work with 30 schools annually, providing free sessions – a minimum of four per school. As more schools discover our scheme, the number of schools wishing to get involved has surpassed the number of sessions we can deliver.
To help us make the best use of our resources and time, we ask interested school to complete an online form, outlining their needs. The application window opens in mid-September annually and closes in early November. We contact schools in early December to let them know the outcome of their application.
How much does it cost
Four sessions are free to successful schools who go through the application process; but any school that has not quite got through that process can opt into sessions delivered at “cost”.
How come it’s free to some schools, where do you find your funding.
A vast array of funding comes to us from donations from individuals, charitable foundations and companies, but also through people running marathons on our behalf, selling old unwanted fishing tackle, sponsored runs…anything and everything that helps our case, really. It all helps.
Do you only work with mainstream schools
Absolutely not. We embrace SEND schools – or areas within a larger campus, alternative provisions, PR units, all manner of schools, and we will be looking to deliver to home educating groups in the future. We, like the young people we assist, evolve to meet the challenges.
Who teaches and coaches young people during the initiative, are they suitably qualified to so
We only ever work with coaches that have been qualified to Sport Coach licencing L2 standards. This ensures that young people are safe and due diligence surrounding sessions has been implemented and maintained at all times.
Young people’s well-being and safety are at the very heart of what we do, and to ensure that this is our priority ALL our coaching staff have been rigorously checked and have an enhanced DBS and have attended a current courses attendant to young people, first aid and coaching.
