Gym & Judo club offers school leavers a career in sport

Thousands of teenagers across Buckinghamshire collected their GCSE and A Level results this month, and for many, results day brings its own pressure- deciding between university, an apprenticeship, or straight into work.

Booker Gym Club is offering a reminder that the traditional path isn't the only option, having just graduated its first coaching apprentice and welcoming a new one, offering young people the chance to build a career in gymnastics coaching.

Leo Harris, who started the apprenticeship aged 18 and is now 20, has just completed the two-year programme.

Leo joined Booker Gym Club after finishing a sport leadership course at college, taking on a Level 4 High-Performance Coach apprenticeship delivered through Taunton and Bridgwater College in partnership with British Gymnastics.

During his time, Leo was able to retake his English GCSE- which was a requirement of the level 4 qualification.

His final assessments included a 4,000-word end point assessment, which he chose to write about trampolining and a presentation, alongside a live one-hour coaching session assessing his planning, time management and coaching skills, and a question-and-answer session covering everything from across the apprenticeship.

As part of the course, Leo also spent three days at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, including a trip to Liverpool to watch the British Championships for artistic gymnastics.

Leo says: "This apprenticeship has given me more of an opportunity to become a higher-level qualified coach, I’m excited what the future holds and where it may take me.

"Apprenticeships give the opportunity for more people to go into a field they love, allowing people to gain valuable working experience whilst also earning a qualification. It allows apprentices to learn and develop practical skills, and working in a real environment helps build confidence.

“When I left school, I didn't pass GCSE English, and I was worried what that would mean for my future- but I had so much support from my college and Booker Gym Club when I was retaking my exam alongside the level 4 course. Leo is now a coach at Booker Gym Club, teaching freestyle, tumble and boys' artistic gymnastics, and is also looking to take on work at other clubs. He plans to complete his Level 3 qualification and a Level 3 freestyle course, before progressing to Level 4 in tumble.

He did not go to university, and says that with hindsight, he would have skipped college altogether.

"I would have preferred to go straight into the apprenticeship rather than going to college, though going to college has given me another path to follow if I want to."

Leo found out about the apprenticeship through Booker Gym Club Head Coach, Kate Dutnall, after she attended a webinar run by British Gymnastics. He will now help support the club's newest apprentice, James, as he begins the programme in September.

James, 21, joins after completing his GCSEs, a college course, and five years of work, including in customer service.

James says: "I first heard about the apprenticeship through Leo a couple of years ago, and I thought it sounded great.

“I knew it would be a good opportunity for me, my skills and helping me to become a better coach.

“As soon as I was offered it, I said yes. I would be silly to say no!” Like many people in Leo and James’ position, they didn’t know what they wanted to do after school, or what was available to them- especially if they didn’t receive the exam results they were hoping for.

James adds: "I wasn't exactly sure on what I wanted to do, I was working in customer service and hadn't planned to get an apprenticeship afterwards, but when I was offered the role, I knew I would say yes."

Having been a gymnast his whole life with experience in coaching and judging, James says love for the sport was his main driver.

"I think this apprenticeship will really benefit my career in the sport, I will get the qualifications and skills to make my coaching a lot higher standard.

“As a gymnast myself I know my body won't be able to do this forever, and I have so much love for the sport this feels like the right step to stay in the sport”

He says the path is one that sets him apart from his peers, that one day he wants to be a one of the national coaches for GB.

"None of my friends are doing apprenticeships, they mostly are all in some kind of full-time work. I definitely would say I'm excited to take this step even if it is something I'm not familiar with."

With results day looming for thousands of students, both Leo and James have a message for anyone unsure what comes next.

James says: "After GCSEs, it definitely can feel overwhelming on what to do next, I would say definitely keep your options open, there is so much more you can do other than the standard A Level route. It definitely feels like you need everything sorted out with your next steps the second you leave school, but you definitely don't."

Kate Dutnall, Head coach and General manager of Booker Gym Club says: “As someone who has had a career in gymnastic for the last 30years, it is important to me to see the sport that I, and everyone I have trained, love continue to thrive.

“Our apprenticeship offers young people, who maybe struggled during school a chance at a career that they love. They do not need to have English or Maths GCSE, as they have plenty of opportunities to retake during their course.

“We encourage our squads and advanced kids to start coaching from 14, to share their knowledge and step into working world, many go to university and return to coach, we are the Booker family!

“Coaching also looks great on their university applications, for Duke of Edinburgh or simply to get a job after school.”

Booker Gym Club is a not-for-profit club which has trained hundreds of aspiring gymnasts since 1987.