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The Institute of Groundsmanship discusses the complex task of making sure school grounds can safely accommodate various types of sport and play
 The fact that there are plans to establish the Association of School Grounds Professionals to “tackle the problems faced by grounds professionals in private schools” is a sign that groundsmen throughout the country at both private and state schools are regularly confronted by specific issues that require an unusually wide-ranging multi-tasking skill set to accommodate the demands of multi-use playing surfaces.
“This means school groundsmen potentially face a myriad of problems that single-sport grounds professionals often can’t imagine,” says Ian Avery, head groundsman at Sutton Valence School in Kent, and the man behind the idea of the new Association.
“Following an initial meeting in September of school groundsmen at the IOG SALTEX show, it is now the intention that we progress with the development of the Association,” he continues.
“The group will offer support, guidance and networking opportunities for school groundsmen where common issues can be shared and resolved.”
Multiple demands
Those common issues focus, for example, on the increasingly widespread mix of artificial and natural turf playing surfaces, which by necessity involve totally different maintenance routines. Other issues include the requirements that the (often) multitude of sports make on groundsmen and the playing surfaces themselves. Even in school holidays, the playing surfaces at many schools are ‘open for business’.
And the skills demands don’t end there – groundsmen are also charged with managing the appropriate equipment needs, such as nets, as well as varying horticultural requirements of school grounds.
In some cases this could also include the specification and sourcing of items like outdoor canopies. Outdoor activities are an excellent way to bring the curriculum to life and canopies offer schools safe, covered areas for such activities to take place. Likewise, during break time, covered areas offer pupils an area outside where they can take in the fresh air whilst being sheltered from the elements. When sourcing an outdoor canopy, a visit to IOG SALTEX can pay dividends.
Training & education
Ever since its establishment in 1934, the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) has been working to develop training and educational opportunities for grounds staff. Today the IOG offers a wide range of professional short courses as well as internationally recognised qualifications in most areas of grounds maintenance and management. This includes training that is endorsed and supported by all the major governing bodies of sport in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The IOG works closely with all relevant organisations in the UK and Ireland to promote these opportunities. This includes working in partnership with colleges and awarding bodies to ensure there are adequate and appropriate educational qualifications for all employment levels within the industry, to ensure the recognition of the profession and the need for quality standards for grounds and groundsmen.
Its three-tiered scheme of courses is designed and structured to meet grounds staff’s needs for the management and maintenance of sporting surfaces, as well as specific courses for ‘winter pitches’ and ‘synthetics’.
Teaching school children
Back in 2007, the IOG broke new ground by playing a key role in successfully helping schoolchildren achieve an IOG-endorsed National Practical Certificate Introduction to Groundsmanship accreditation. Undertaken by 21 students aged 14-15 years from the Ashton on Mersey Sports College in Manchester, the IOG-led initiative involved the students in tuition for one day a week for six weeks, and included ‘practical outdoor’ sessions at Middleton Cricket Club and at Manchester United’s Carrington training ground before being assessed.
The college has close links with Manchester United and the club’s head groundsman Joe Pemberton, and education and welfare officer Dave Bushall, played key roles in the success of the programme. Liam Horrigan from Ashton on Mersey college re-arranged the students’ classroom timetables to accommodate the programme and liaised closely with the IOG throughout.
The course involved practical assessments covering an introduction to groundsmanship and involved basic skills, the preparation and maintenance of cricket and football pitches and hands-on work – for example, mower operation, soil cultivation, and turfing and seeding.
The programme was observed by Ofsted and received praise from its inspector for being an innovative programme of learning: the students also underwent the short answer-page test associated with NPC using the IOG’s innovative Moodle online virtual learning environment.
Led by IOG instructor Ian Mather-Brewster, who collaborated closely with Ashton on Mersey tutor Darren Lock, the process has been described as a complete success and while setting the benchmark for similar learning projects involving the IOG and schoolchildren, has been repeated at the college.
More recently, Merchant Taylors’ School in Hertfordshire has benefited from IOG training courses and capitalised on the financial assistance offered by Train to Gain – the government service that offers independent advice on improving employee skills.
Three of the grounds team are currently working towards an NVQ Level 3. By collaborating with the IOG – the NVQ delivery body – the qualification can be delivered and assessed on-site effectively, which creates a win-win situation for everyone involved. Grounds manager Richard Ayling, who is undertaking the Level 3 accreditation with two of his groundsmen, explains: “Our training is in-house and therefore doesn’t create absenteeism from work, such as attending college. Therefore our day-to-day duties never suffer.”
“So, we’re happy as a grounds team because our workload doesn’t pile up and, at the end of the process, we’ll have an industry-recognised qualification. And the school is happy because nobody is having away-days, so the grounds remain pristine. And, of course, the government funding is very welcome in such tough economic times.”
For more information
The Institute of Groundsmanhsip: www.iog.org
The Association of School Grounds Professionals:
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