The Director's Update, October 2025

There have been so many high points in my near twenty-year association with Fishing for Schools. There has been heartbreak, jubilation, discovery, learning, understanding and just about every life affirming adjective I can attach to this rather extraordinary adventure.  

But nothing comes close to last Tuesday.  'Why Tuesday 14 October specifically', you ask?

That was the date when somewhere in the region of a 100 people – MP’s, Peers, students, teachers, coaches, Countryside Alliance colleagues, good friends and folk instrumental in helping Fishing for Schools scale even greater heights – gathered together in the Churchill Room within the House of Commons to celebrate students and formally announce, our brand-new qualification: Angling and the Countryside.

This qualification is a game changer and quite possibly the defining point in my time with Fishing for Schools - this is what we have worked towards. A way of enabling those young people who may not learn in the conventional sense, or those that do, a bona fide way of attaining merits towards BTECS, GCSEs, A levels and UCAS points - all areas will be monitored and assessed with an accredited body: Crossfields Institute.  

This is not a token educational gap filler, but instead, a very grown up and tangible aid to young people's education. It is a resonant statement that angling is good.  

As we say here: Love nature - love angling.

Now the work really starts, but what a glorious way to start the project and what fantastic work lies ahead.