A case study analysis of the 5x60 scheme in a large comprehensive school in the city of Cardiff

Abstract

The Sports Council for Wales’ 5x60 initiative focuses on providing extra curricular participation opportunities for secondary school children. The purpose of this study was to carry out a case study of the scheme in a large comprehensive school in the city of Cardiff. The objectives were to explore the scheme, to discover positive and negatives factors concerned with it and to identify possible ways of further improvement.

Semi structured interviews were used to extract qualitative information from a range of people involved with the scheme at the school, which resulted in an increased understanding of the scheme. Results indicated that the school had enjoyed year on year improvement and highlighted the strengths of the scheme to be, the diverse range of activities offered and the partnership work that exists in providing these opportunities. Improvements were suggested in the form of an increased focus on upper school participation, but aside from this weaknesses were identified with the scheme nationally as opposed to in the school. The aims and objectives of the scheme nationally are unclear and there is little evidence of best practise scenarios being shared. Recording data in relation to the targets set and in the general success monitoring of the scheme are identified as being in need of further improvement. This research has analysed a specific case study school and cannot be used as a representation of the scheme nationally.