Being outdoors, closer to nature and being successful at something that is accessible for all. It ticks every box with supporting our most vulnerable, anxious and complex children. Away from the hustle, bustle and rigour of a school setting we have seen our student’s flourish.

Angling is the perfect, subtle mechanism that surreptitiously can draw in so many other aspects of the conventional curriculum.

Often, the Fishing for Schools engagement can be quantified by attainment and attendance, but what is harder to define is how it conveys achievement and the road to ‘success’, instilling a sense of belief at so many personal levels. It is very much an individual journey, during which we all benefit… even the coaches!

Fishing for Schools has had a transformative impact on our pupils, offering them a safe space to develop confidence, teamwork, and coping mechanisms.

Many have shown noticeable improvements in their ability to focus and manage emotions, and they take pride in learning new skills. 

As we know, not all youngsters take to sitting in a classroom. The alternative provision that Fishing for Schools provides gives these students another outlet for learning, maybe not academically, but learning values that will stand them in good stead for life ahead. They learn social skills, teamwork, focus, patience and mindfulness. The teachers I see tell me these traits often get transferred back to the school environment, with pupils performing at higher levels. 

Students are often surprised at how much they enjoy the tranquil surroundings and report that they feel calm when they are fishing. It is apparent how much the sessions engage the students, as attendance is high, feedback positive and several students have continued to fish once they have left the school.

Three Ways School and their students have been an absolute pleasure to work with. Some students may feel indifferent or uncertain about fishing on their first adventure into angling, but it always sparks their enjoyment of the countryside and nature. Time and again, I’ve seen their concentration and teamwork flourish during our sessions.