THE first in a groundbreaking series of educational programmes introduced by Dunfermline Athletic into West Fife primary schools has been hailed as a “huge success”.

The football club, along with the Pars Foundation community programme, formally launched its schools’ engagement strategy on Monday at Pitreavie Primary School with the help of players Allan Smith and Ryan Goodfellow.

Its aim is to use the club as a vehicle to promote learning, achievement of knowledge and skills and health and wellbeing opportunities in partnership with schools, calling on Pars-supporting former teachers Willie Oliphant, Dave Dawson and Gennaro Giudice to help lead its programmes.

Primary 6 pupils at Pitreavie were the first to benefit from the programme in the ‘Pars Stars’ workshop – led by Mr Oliphant – that focused on literacy skills. Pupils were encouraged to test their skills in writing match reports, conducting player interviews and match commentary on five-a-side matches enjoyed with the Pars’ stars that were captured on camera.

Beverley Banks, depute headteacher for the upper school, said, “The kids absolutely loved it and they were all fully engaged throughout, including the girls.

"They were keen to participate and were really enthusiastic and they will share their experience with the rest of the school at assembly.

"It engaged their literacy skills but the main thing for us is that we know that it isn’t a one-off – there are other things such as ‘tackle health and wellbeing’ for Primary 5 and ‘tours for schools’ for Primary 7 where they tour the football ground and see other jobs that are connected to the football club.

“It links very well with the curriculum for excellence and provides the children with skills for developing in jobs.

"We’re really pleased with the initiative and we look forward to working with Dunfermline Athletic in the future.” Pars director Ross McArthur commented, “This has been in the planning over a year and we had to do it right as you’re only going to get one chance.

"As part our plan to re-engage with the community this was an idea that we wanted to take forward and the meetings that we had with Fife education were positive.

“The schools strategy was the first one that we wanted to do but it had to be done properly and go through the right channels.

"We don’t have a lot of resource but we want to take people with us and get them involved.”