Tournament Kick Starts Coaching Career

Student Tom Hoskins has a way with kids.  Hartpury footballers have been coaching SEN pupils from Milestone School in Longlevens for three years, but now Tom has taken this involvement a step further.

Tom, 18, is completing an Extended Diploma in Football and first got involved with the school in 2010.  According to Milestone teacher Sadie Trotman-Murray “Tom really stood out as someone who is excellent at engaging with young people.   Whether it’s leading a session or providing support to other staff, he just gets on with it and keeps the pupils motivated”.

Tom clearly got a lot from the experience as well – in fact, he even gave his up place in Hartpury’s acclaimed Academy team to spend extra time developing his coaching skills with the Milestone pupils.  As Tom says, “I just love it.  You create a real bond with both the kids and the teachers”.

Although Tom will be leaving Hartpury this summer, it is not the end of his relationship with Milestone as he will continue with his coaching activities at the school, as well as undertaking further specialist study in SEN sports coaching.

Tom has nothing but praise when asked about his time at the college. “It’s been outstanding – particularly the support I’ve received from the staff, who have become more like mates than teachers.   Without Hartpury there’s no way I’d be doing this right now.”

Tom had a chance to put his coaching skills into practice last week, when pupils from Milestone and other Gloucestershire SEN schools met at a tournament organised and officiated by Hartpury students.