Easa

EASA oversees extra-curricular Sport at Ellon Academy Community Campus. (Supported by Active Schools)

EASA is a voluntary, non-profit making organisation

15th September 2015

Ellon Academy Sports Association (EASA)

As you may be aware, last year, following discussion and agreement with the Parent Council, we invited pupils to join the Ellon Academy Sports Association (EASA). The purpose of this association was to increase pupils’ sporting and after school club participation and to meet, and subsidise, the significant costs associated with these vital health and wellbeing opportunities.

At Ellon Academy we are very fortunate that large numbers of teaching and non-teaching staff regularly give their time, free of charge, to run and support: clubs, cultural visits, events, leisure activities, revision sessions, homework clubs and a very large number of sporting teams.

Over the past few years, it has become increasingly challenging to subsidise the rising transport costs for the huge number of successful sporting clubs and teams across the school. In addition, there are also significant costs associated with: equipment, venues, insurance, affiliation with government bodies, presentation for competitions etc. Last session alone, the cost of providing after school transport on a Wednesday and Thursday each week together with transport for extra-curricular sporting activities amounted to approximately £25, 000.

Last year EASA had a fantastic first year overseeing and supporting the vast range of sporting clubs and teams available to Ellon Academy pupils and I am delighted to inform you that EASA played a significant role in Ellon Academy being awarded the Sport Scotland Gold School Sport Award for 2015-2017. The Gold standard was only awarded to two Aberdeenshire schools and a handful across the country. The Award is recognition of our achievement in putting quality physical education and school sport at the heart of the school’s planning, practice and ethos. The award highlights the excellent practice across the extended curriculum, together with an on-going commitment to increasing pupils’ opportunities and engagement in: quality physical education, extra-curricular activities, leadership and life-long participation in sport.

We’d like to thank parents / carers, coaches / organisers and all EASA members for their continued support in ensuring that sport is as accessible and financial viable to all Ellon Academy pupils.

To ensure the continued success of EASA is supporting the wide range of sporting opportunities on offer at Ellon Academy, the following is proposed:

After School Transport from Ellon Academy Community Campus

• After school transport on Wednesdays / Thursday will continue. This ensures that all pupils, wherever they live in our community have the opportunity to participate in after-school activities and parents /carers can be assured that their child can get home. The cost will be £2. 00 per journey. EASA members will pay a reduced price of £1 per journey on presenting their EASA membership card.

This cost of £2. 00 per journey will be a standard cost within our community. Pupils will pay for the transport via the Campus Reception before the end of the lunch break on the day the transport is required. Clearly, parents /carers may make alternative arrangements to collect their child from their club or activity.

Ellon Academy Sports Association (EASA)

• All pupils who attend any Ellon Academy club or team, will pay a one off, annual cost of £30. 00 to join EASA. There will be no additional cost should your son / daughter be a member of more than one club or team. Payment will entitle each pupil to an EASA card. This will allow them entry to any club /team across the school. Each club /team will have weekly training for EASA members.

• Additional one off bus journeys within Aberdeenshire for sporting events will incur a heavily subsidised charge of only £3. 00 per journey. Additional one off bus journeys outwith Aberdeenshire for sporting events will also incur a heavily subsidised charge of only £5. 00 per journey.

For the past two weeks, all EASA Sports Clubs have been running ‘try before you buy’ training sessions. The 2015-2016 subscriptions of £30 will be collected by EASA committee members, assisted by Sports Captains, at extended registration on Thursday 17th September.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with myself should you wish to discuss this further.

Ian Wright
Faculty Head, Mathematics
& Chair of EASA

Tim McKay
Rector