Written by: Marta Brichova, Senior Consultant
The partnership between the Premier League and the British Council has been bringing positive change to young people since 2007, reaching millions of children, educators and communities around the world. There are two flagship programmes in our collaboration, Premier Skills and Primary Stars. Premier Skills empowers educators and coaches to use football as a tool for education and social development. The programme’s success lies in its ability to adapt to the needs of diverse communities, helping young people build essential life skills and addressing social issues at a community level. The second programme, Primary Stars, develops schoolteachers’ skills to provide high-quality physical education and create a learning environment that enables primary school children to develop life skills and love of sport.
These programmes have had a positive impact in 29 countries across the globe, reaching over 41,000 coaches, referees and educators and impacting the lives of more than 2.2 million children and young people. Since 2008, the partnership has also supported English language learners through Premier League-themed podcast and free online resources, which have been accessed more than 13 million times. The partnership currently focuses on the education sector in China, India and South Africa. In close collaboration with the education authorities in these countries, extensive training and support is provided to educators and coaches to enhance the quality of teaching practices and share their knowledge with their peers.
The stability and longevity of the partnership enabled the programmes to focus on building sustainability. One example of this successful approach comes from Mr Ge, a teacher and trainer from China. Having started his career in physical education and football in 2012, Mr Ge was first introduced to Premier Skills through his curiosity about the Premier League. He began to integrate the Premier Skills’ teaching principles such as SMILES (Safety, Maximum participation, Inclusivity, Learning, Enjoyment and Success) and tools such as STEPS (Space, Time, Environment, People and Speed) into his practice. These principles, designed to promote student-centred coaching and increase participation, soon became central to his teaching philosophy. Mr Ge observed that the children became more independent in their thinking, both during training sessions and in matches. They developed the ability to read the game, make decisions and express their creativity. This not only improved their football skills but also helped them develop essential life skills such as problem solving, communication and teamwork.
The partnership continued to support Mr Ge to enhance his skills in developing other coaches and become a coach educator. As Mr Ge’s career progressed, he took on a new role as a researcher at Baoshan Academy of Education where he was responsible for overseeing the football education and development of students from grades 1 to 12 across schools in Baoshan. In this new capacity, he continued to incorporate Premier Skills methods into his teacher training, helping his colleagues improve their coaching abilities. The use of SMILES and STEPS has allowed teachers to better organise their sessions, create more engaging activities, and ensure that every student is actively involved. One of the most significant changes has been the increase in student participation during these lessons. Teachers who previously organised their students in long lines, resulting in long waiting times and minimal activity, have now learned to divide their classes into smaller groups, ensuring that every child has a chance to engage and contribute. Mr Ge has integrated the methods into his everyday work and continues to support numerous local teachers to effectively increase the quality of the education for thousands of students.
Another example of both the tangible impact of the programmes and the long-term engagement with individuals in countries, is the story of Ms Nomonde Mashabane from South Africa who joined the Premier Skills programme in 2014. A community football coach, coach educator and more recently a school sports assistant, Ms Mashabane has been an advocate for using football and sports in general to empower young people. Through her involvement in Premier Skills, she has been able to train other coaches and educators across the whole country, using football as a platform for social change. Like Mr Ge, she has seen how the Premier Skills approach can positively impact young people and, in her community, also address issues such as drug use among young people.
Ms Mashabane’s work has been particularly impactful in promoting inclusivity and gender equality. She has made it her mission to ensure that young girls have the same opportunities as boys to engage in football, which is often seen as a male-dominated sport in many parts of the world. By using the resources and training provided by Premier Skills, she has helped create a more inclusive environment for young people, where everyone, regardless of their background or gender, can feel confident and capable. She has become a role model for young girls and female coaches. Supporting the partnership mission, Ms Mashabane has co-delivered training to hundreds of coaches and teachers across South Africa in the Premier Skills methods.
The collaboration between the Premier League and British Council has demonstrated that sport, and particularly football, has the power to bring about positive social change. Through initiatives like Premier Skills and Primary Stars, the partnership has not only enhanced the quality of education and coaching but has also empowered individuals to become leaders and change-makers in their communities. As the partnership continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly continue to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people across the globe, helping them develop the skills they need to succeed both on and off the pitch.