British Judo is delighted to announce its School 2 Dojo Programme, which will help BJA clubs to build active links with their local schools, helping to attract more participants through school-club links than ever before.

In 2003, the Department for Education and Skills (DFES) and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) launched the National School Sport Strategy, which incorporates the Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links Programme (PESSCL).

School 2 Dojo will simplify BJA's approach to PESSCL, whilst still achieving the same objectives set out by the DCMS and DFES.

The ethos behind School 2 Dojo is to simplify the concept, assist BJA clubs, and involve the schools more in the process.

By 2010 all 5-19 year olds will be offered at least 5 hours of sport each week, which will comprise of at least 2 hours of high quality PE and sport at school. In addition they will also be encouraged to take part in at least a further 2-3 hours beyond the school day through community sport, for example judo in BJA clubs. It is believed that this will be achieved via active school-club links.

Recent Government results have revealed that 13% of judo clubs are using the scheme fully. Although this percentage is promising there is still room for improvement when compared to Hockey where 23% of clubs have links and Gymnastics at 35%.

Information on how to start and build an active partnership with your local school can now be found on the Development Page. The free School 2 Dojo online toolkit is available to all and includes downloadable letters and templates, a glossary of terms, as well as information on key partners in your area that will be able to assist you.

School 2 Dojo Recognition for Schools

In reality schools rarely gets any recognition, and therefore they are not always motivated to activate the formal link agreement once it is in place.

The School 2 Dojo Programme will now give recognition to the schools , who will have an opportunity to achieve a grade for the level of commitment to the local judo club. This will provide the school with more reasons to be pro-active in the link.

Education and activation

Once a link agreement is in place the relationship can involve the club having regular contact with the school and possibly doing judo demonstrations and taster sessions to improve awareness of the sport and the club, right through to the club being a major active presence within the school.

Free Resource Pack

The School 2 Dojo Resource pack is available exclusively to BJA CLUBMARK Clubs, which will include resources, together with the use of a consistent image and brand which will revolutionise the way that they promote themselves and the sport within schools.

Registered CLUBMARK Clubs simply send an up to date copy of any School-Club Link Agreements, which will entitle them to the FREE pack. The pack will include a one page guide to best practice when working with schools, a supply of judo leaflets to give out during assemblies or sessions, posters and a certificate for all the schools named in your club links agreements. Further supplies will be available at a slight charge and a price list and order form will be available in the pack.

If your club has a strong and interactive link with local schools and would like to be involved in the early release of the School 2 Dojo programme, please contact Daniel Griffin on danielgriffin@britishjudo.org.uk or call 07817 995093.

For more information on School 2 Dojo please see the April edition of Matside.