Literacy Kicks

Authentic, award-winning schools programme which enhances literacy skills through sports reporting lessons. For more information visit

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

🌟 2025 highlights 🌟

This year Literacy Kicks has worked with leading sporting organisations and athletes, developed new and existing partnerships and taken the number of schools that have run our sports journalism workshops to over 120

Here are some of our 2025 highlights 🧵

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

This week sees the next stage of our partnership with @BritTri, with a new editing task running alongside a journalism workshop and physical sessions delivered by triathlon coaches. We can’t wait! ✍️ 📰 🏊‍♂️ 🚴‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

This has been a fantastic project to work on with @britishfencing ahead of their big event in Cardiff 🤺 ✍️ 📰

https://t.co/WtHCZh30iP

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

This week the 15 primary school classes completing our six-week writing programmes have been learning about and hearing from England Women’s captain Jodie Cunningham. Their articles have focused on her outstanding career and passion for using sport to make a positive impact ✍️📰

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

It was brilliant to return to St Thomas’ CofE Westhoughton this week and find a wall display of last year’s Literacy Kicks work. Years 4 and 5 made a fantastic start to their six-week courses as well ✍️ 📰

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

Literacy Kicks’ new 26/27 workbooks have arrived from the printers! Next week 15 classes will start six-week courses - reporting on World Cup matches, writing profile pieces on global stars, taking on the role of a sub-editor and live blogging thrilling games. We can’t wait! ✍️📰

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

This month Literacy Kicks started a new three-year partnership with @BritTri that will combine primary school writing workshops with physical activity sessions using Active Skills For Life. The pilots at Bradford’s fantastic @PriestleyTrust were a huge success ✍️ 📰 🏊‍♀️ 🚴‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

This month Literacy Kicks teamed up with British Fencing to create a writing workshop on the Para Fencing European Championships which take place in Cardiff this October. Over 400 primary school pupils in the city wrote their own newspaper articles on the fast-paced sport ✍️ 📰

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

Earlier this month we returned for a fourth year at The Hollins high school in Accrington for match reporting workshops with each of their Y8 classes. The pupils produced some outstanding reports on the Lionesses’ memorable Euro 2025 triumph ✍️ 📰

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

@WCHS_PE @garethwalker Another fantastic edition - well done to all involved and already looking forward to returning to work with next year’s editorial team ✍️ 📰

[Whitworth HS PE, Sport & DofE @WCHS_PE]

Whitworth Whistle Summer 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ 🌞 🏝️

Well done to all the students who have contributed to this terms publication. Special mention to Ethan C and James P who have been great editors. 👏📰🗞️

Thank you to @garethwalker & @literacykicks once again. 👍

https://t.co/i9MViZM0ic

[Whitworth HS PE, Sport & DofE @WCHS_PE]

Whitworth Whistle 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Summer Edition coming soon............. 🗞️ 📰 🗞️

@literacykicks @garethwalker

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

It’s been brilliant to be back at three of our regular schools for new sports journalism programmes this half-term, at Euxton Primrose Hill, St Hugh’s Oldham and Rivington Primary St Helens. This week has seen pupils writing about amazing Paralympian Nathan Maguire ✍️ 📰

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

It was an absolute pleasure to be back in classrooms with @ikramofficial today to conclude our sports journalism programme with Olive Tree Primary in Bolton. The pupils loved hearing stories of his trailblazing rugby league career before writing their own newspaper articles ✍️📰

[Tseni Abolarin @AbolarinTseni]

Year 5 continued their journalism project today with @LiteracyWorks, learning more about the inspiring Ikram Butt and his rugby journey. The children loved using their notes to write their own reports! #Journalism #Literacy @Mr_H_Neville @skovariwala @OliveTreeHT @ikramofficial

[Tseni Abolarin @AbolarinTseni]

Year 5 have done a fantastic job with Literacy Kicks this week, stepping into the role of sports journalists to write about Nathan Maguire. Brilliant writing, great questions and some excellent reporting skills on show! @literacykicks @OliveTreeHT @Mr_H_Neville @skovariwala

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

It was great for our primary school project with the Deighton Carnival to feature on the front page and prominently on page three of the Huddersfield Examiner last week ✍️ 📰

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

Media coverage of our project with the Deighton Carnival in today’s Huddersfield Examiner ✍️ 📰

https://t.co/785KcA6V8g

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

Students then wrote their own newspaper articles on the subject. Howard’s passion, knowledge and enthusiasm for the carnival shone throughout, helping to capture the imagination of Year 5 and 6 pupils, many of who had been involved in the event.

Made possible by @HeritageFundNOR

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

Over the last two weeks we’ve been working on our first non-sporting project with the Deighton Carnival - and it’s been an absolute privilege.

Four primary schools have learned about the 25-year history of this amazing event through the eyes of organiser Howard Belafonte (1/2)

[Literacy Kicks @literacykicks]

It was brilliant to return for a fifth year to Christ the King High School in Southport this week, working with their entire Year 7 in classroom match reporting sessions ✍️ 📰

[Rugby Football League @TheRFL]

Over 1,000 primary school pupils have learnt the fascinating history of the BARA & the impact of one of its founders Dr Ikram Butt over the last two months 🙌

As part of the ‘Beyond the Try Line’ project, schools programme Literacy Kicks developed a bespoke writing workshop ✍️