PUPILS from Middlesbrough's Kings Academy have completed the first strand of their year-long Making Football Count programme with Middlesbrough Football Club.

A group of twelve year 10 pupils attended the Football First course to examine social skills as well as various issues facing their local communities.

Course tutor Anth Garbutt said: "The pupils have completed various sessions looking at bullying, racism and citizenship and have hopefully picked up some new skills or knowledge that they can take forward.

"This is the second consecutive year we have worked with the Kings Academy and we're confident of replicating the success of last year's group."

The pupils are now beginning the second strand of the programme, Career Planning.

The club have also welcomed groups from Newstart and Stockton's Bishopton Centre onto a mini version of the course.

Making Football Count is a programme targeting those who are not achieving their full potential at school.

It has been tailor-made for pupils to enhance social skills and improve basic English, Maths and IT skills.

Courses consist of 10 day-long sessions and can be run over a 10-week period or a more intense two-week, full-time period.

Every session uses football as a learning tool and some of the key areas covered are...

*Behaviour reinforcement
*Anger management
*Raising self esteem
*Achieving goals
*Anti-racism
*Anti-bullying
*Confidence building
*Health and fitness

By using Middlesbrough Football Club as a business model, the scheme will engage young people and motivate those who may not follow the more traditional learning routes.

Boro have recently worked with pre-GCSE pupils and aim to raise their grades significantly. The club is currently aiming to raise the A to C grades in the Tees Valley by 2%.

For more information on how to get your school involved, please contact Nic Sinclair on 07894 584 651 or email nic.sinclair@mfcp.co.uk.