Lincoln City Academy have recently appointed a brand-new Head of Education to join the team. Emma Metheringham has joined the Imps after almost three decades of working in secondary schools across the UK.
Emma has a wealth of experience in the education system, from teaching Physical Education to becoming Head of Year at various Secondary Schools.
“I started teaching PE in 1991 and have since worked in five different secondary schools across the country. A lot of that time has been Head of Year in a pastoral role, so whilst teaching I would ensure students are behaving and are on target to completing their relevant qualifications.”
Earlier in the year, the club announced an exciting partnership with Lincoln Minster School which saw our new cohort of scholars boarding and undertaking further academic qualifications including A-levels and EPQ’s in addition to their LFE courses.
Emma spoke of the unique partnership with Lincoln Minster, and how fortunate the scholars are to be receiving first class education from one of the top independent schools in the East Midlands.
“We are delighted with the partnership we have with Lincoln Minster, an amazing independent school in the heart of the city, which is where the scholars live.”
“The scholars who are taking their A-Levels also attend lessons at the school, so they’re in a really fortunate position where they’re receiving top education, but also have that experience of living in a boarding house and having an independent lifestyle, as well as their football provision and LFE education programme at Riseholme College.”
Emma also highlighted how important it is for the Scholars to complete their qualifications, which are vitally important for both higher education and future career opportunities.
“We currently have three scholars completing their A-levels in Maths and English, but alongside this, also completing a Level 3 qualification in sport, which covers a range of different modules such as fitness, anatomy and physiology.”
“Completing this qualification sets the scholars up really nicely. It is a fantastic platform to support their route into professional football, but they can then also explore other opportunities within sport in the UK or abroad, such as a scholarship in the USA.”
“We also want to support scholars having the future option of higher education, so the qualifications they’re studying is their ticket to university. Our partnership with Riseholme College, and the excellent relationship we have with all the staff working across the whole scholar group, is really valuable and allows us to monitor every individual’s progress throughout their 2 years.”
Sean Roughan joined the Imps last summer and has been benefitted from the unique education set-up at Lincoln City, and the relationship with Lincoln Minster School, by studying for his Irish Leaving Certificate.
Emma explained the challenges Sean has faced, and how his fantastic attitude and willingness to learn was putting him in great stead before the latest news from Ireland that his exams have been cancelled this summer.
“Sean is a fantastic young man with a great attitude. In the Republic of Ireland, they have a different education system, meaning we have taken on the responsibility of helping him to complete his Irish Leaving Certificate.”
“We have recruited a fantastic tutor in Louise Costello who helps Sean learn Irish, which is one of the subjects he studies. Louise teaches Sean twice a week, while Lincoln Minster School tutor Sean across all the other subjects. Both have been outstanding in their support for Sean”.
Recently the government announced that the apprenticeship education standards are to be changed in August. However, Emma and the Academy staff are well prepared and have taken the required steps during lockdown to ensure the scholars will be ready once football resumes.
The apprenticeship education standards are changing, which we have been preparing for over the last few weeks. This will include a portfolio of their development throughout their scholarship, formal interviews and an endpoint assessment.
Emma spoke of the importance of delivering equality training to the scholars, and ensuring we play our part to make sure that football remains an inclusive environment for everyone involved in the game.
We now also have a life schools programme which is provided in conjunction with the LFE. There are courses on there from Kick It Out, Driver Awareness and Sexual Health. Topics of conversation include racism, homophobia, sexism, faith, disability, social media and the impact of acceptable/unacceptable banter in a changing room environment.
“These are really important workshops provided to us by the LFE and educate our scholars on the inclusivity in football.”
It certainly seems that Lincoln City’s Scholars have access to a wealth of education opportunities off the pitch to support their aims and ambitions of becoming professional footballers.