ACADEMY ACCREDITATION 2016

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1 ACADEMY ACCREDITATION 2016 On an annual basis all Academies are accredited and assessed against the standards set out below. In 2015 a new 4 year Academy licence was introduced and each club had to submit an application and a 4 year plan. As a result of that process, 12 clubs were granted category 1 status and 4 were granted category 2 status. The accreditation process looked into the context of how well the academy is meeting the needs of players, delivering activity and the quality of leadership and management, specifically to: Monitor and evaluate the performance and progression of the Academies against their 4 year plans and the progress from last year s accreditation visit. Recognises the strengths in the work that Academies do and Identify areas for improvement and how work is being quality assured Show the Impact of partnership work and evidence how the academy is being led. This is the sixth year in which such an exercise has been carried out and on the whole the Academies are showing that they are year on year increasing the quality of the player supply for both the Super League and England programmes at all levels. Below is a summary of all the Academies and how they have been graded within the judgement scale listed below WHAT THE ASSESSMENT JUDGEMENTS MEAN Grade Judgement Description Grade 1 Outstanding Grade 2 Good Grade 3 Requires Improvement Grade 4 Weak An assessment of outstanding applies to performance which is a model of its type. The outcomes for players along with their experience are of a very high quality. An evaluation of outstanding represents a level of performance which exemplifies best practice. It also implies these very high levels of performance are sustainable and will be maintained. An assessment of good applies to performance characterised by important strengths which, taken together, clearly outweigh any areas for improvement. An evaluation of good represents a standard of performance in which the strengths have a significant positive impact. However, the impact, outcomes and experiences for players are diminished in some way by aspects in which improvement is required. It implies that the academy should seek to improve further the areas of important strength, but also take action to address An assessment of requires improvement applies to performance characterised by strengths which just outweigh weaknesses. An evaluation of requires Improvement indicates that players have access to a basic level of provision which may not fully meet their needs or aspirations. However, while the weaknesses will not be important enough to have a substantially adverse impact, they will constrain the overall impact, outcomes and experiences of players. It implies that the academy should take immediate action to address areas of weakness while building on strengths. An assessment of weak applies to performance characterised by some strengths, but where there are important weaknesses. In general, an evaluation of weak may be arrived at in a number of circumstances. While there may be some strengths, the important weaknesses will, either individually or collectively, be sufficient to diminish the impact, outcomes and experiences for players in substantial ways. It implies the need for structured and planned action on the part of the academy.

2 Bradford Bulls Grades 2016 RATING: GOOD Bradford Bulls have continued the status of a "good" Academy, awarded to them by the independent accreditation. The Bulls have a good progressive training programme that incorporates delivering the AASE full time model and sets strong moral standards using well proven structures and systems. There is a clear pathway and ethos with a strong welfare support mechanism that is key to the development of their young players. Parents and players have highlighted that there is a very positive player centred environment and speak positively about their sons experience and the quality of programme they receive. Catalans Dragons Grades 2016 RATING: ASSESSMENT BEGINNING OF JUNE N/a N/a 2 N/a N/a - - N/a N/a 2 - N/a N/a 2 - N/a N/a 1 - Catalans Dragons will be assessed in June of 2016 and results published later in the month. Previously they were rated Good in 2015 due to the quality provision that the staff provided, the strong links between all stakeholders within the academy and lots of contact time with coaches developing all aspects of their game Castleford Tigers Grades 2016 RATING: GOOD Castleford Tigers have made significant progress over the last 12 months and achieved a Good academy, awarded to them by the independent accreditation. The club have enhanced the delivery, which is having a real positive impact on the needs of its players. Other improvements include their partnership with Pontefract New College and the range of education opportunities provided to players, increased contact time and improved staffing structures. A Player welfare officer has been deployed to specifically cater for the youth environment and external specialists deliver mental skills and nutrition support on a one to one basis. Feedback from parents / guardians is extremely positive.

3 Huddersfield Giants Grades 2016 RATING: GOOD Huddersfield Giants continue to have a Good academy with outstanding features. The investment into the process and programmes, has now started to embed and will increase player s opportunities to progress. With the implementation of full time training and education programmes, this will accelerate the player s progression and development within the clubs academy system. This will potentially increase the players gravitating towards their first team and Super League. There is a quality learning environment that allows players to develop to their full potential within the culture that has been created. City Of Hull Grades 2016 RATING: ASSESSMENT END OF JULY Leeds Rhinos Grades 2016 RATING: OUTSTANDING The City of Hull academy has yet to be assessed and accredited since being created by Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers, but is utilising the already outstanding rated facilities at Bishop Burton. There has been a major investment alongside the introduction of a robust staffing structure, which is larger than either academy had in place previously. The joint academy has more benefits and pathways than ever before. This progression will ensure that the players entering the environment will have greater opportunities than at any point previously to develop their career in professional rugby league. Leeds Rhinos continue as an Outstanding Academy having retained the standard in They have established a system which allows players to seek their preferred educational pathway alongside their rugby development within the academy. This has resulted in the introduction of a new structure which has increased staffing numbers with a Nutritionist and Sports Psychologist and also contact time with the players. This will add to the learning experience and opportunity to progress. Leeds Rhinos have a clear vision and direction which supports players to reach their potential as professional players.

4 St Helens Grades 2016 RATING: OUTSTANDING St Helens continue to be an Outstanding Academy and have been since the inception of the accreditation process. They have a clear pathway and development strategy through the academy to the first team and pride themselves on producing players from their junior ranks. The club has recently made further investments and obtained another building to extend the current training facilities and enhance the development opportunities presented to players. There has been further enhancements with recruitment and investment into the staffing structure and is well on its way to meeting its objectives within its 4 year plan. Wakefield Wildcats Grades 2016 RATING: NEEDS IMPROVEMENT Warrington Wolves Grades 2016 RATING: OUTSTANDING Wakefield Trinity was deemed needs Improvement in the assessment by the independent accreditation. There have been wholesale changes within the clubs staffing structure resulting in some disruption to the programme. However, this has been addressed and the process of building and progressing the new systems that will take the club forward is underway. The new programme has the full backing of the clubs owner who is both committed and passionate about strengthening the pathway for locally based players to excel. The new philosophy and culture will take time to embed, but there are some very good practices already being adopted. Warrington Wolves continue to be an Outstanding Academy having attained the standard in The Wolves have made further investments into facilities and staff to increase the support of the player s development. This has allowed the club to specifically deploy members of staff in key areas and restructure to maximise the opportunities within the club. All stakeholders are actively involved in and fully behind the philosophy of the club. The clearly defined systems and processes that are in place will ultimately create further advancement opportunities for players in the academy to progress into the first team.

5 Widnes Vikings Grades 2016 RATING: OUTSTANDING Widnes Vikings continue to be an Outstanding Academy having attained the standard in the accreditation in The academy has further developed its system and increased contact time with its players leading to greater learning opportunities. This along with a dynamic and committed staff and management team will improve the clubs ethos of seeing more academy produced players within their first team squad. The academy has a clear vision and purpose set against its 4 year plan that is setting new markers of standards and protocol that is producing players for the first team Wigan Warriors Grades 2016 RATING: OUTSTANDING Cumbria Storm Grades 2016 RATING: WEAK Wigan warriors continue to be an Outstanding Academy and have been since the inception of the accreditation process. The Wigan club s embracement of a culture runs throughout all departments and has seen the number of players coming through the ranks to first team have been of a consistently high standard. The academy and its leaders are forward thinking and have a clear vision of how the clubs Youth Development, Education and Community Team work as one. This fully inclusive approach to developing young player s means there is a prolific vehicle for learning and progressing, supported by an excellent staffing structure. Cumbria Storm have unfortunately being deemed a weak Academy by the independent accreditation on their first assessment. This is due to a number of issues that need urgently addressing and has resulted in the restructuring of the academy going forward that will hopefully allow the programme to achieve its required outcomes. This will mean engaging with local partners to promote the value and importance of the programme and create a better network with local stakeholders, with an immediate plan of action to address the issues.

6 London Broncos Grades 2016 RATING: GOOD London Broncos have improved since 2015 to the status of a "good" Academy, awarded to them by the independent accreditation. This is a reward for the commitment of the club to continue to invest in the academy and the strength of the plan, programme and environment provided. Players and Parents are very positive and the athletes from London have the potential to go onto higher levels. Links with partners have been established and all rugby league stakeholders have clear communication about player progress. There is a holistic approach to development, including player welfare, which the players benefit from Salford Red Devils Grades 2016 RATING: NEEDS IMPROVEMENT Salford Red Devils were deemed needs Improvement in the assessment which is progress on the previous year s accreditation. There has been a new staffing infrastructure put in place and a key component has been a capacity to identify and put in place improvements. There is commendable work of the foundation supporting the player development process and has seen the head of youth engaging staff and players into the value and importance of the academy, which is now a key focus of the club ethos. The improvements now need embedding into the academy and aligning to their 4 year plan to improve further. Newcastle Grades 2016 RATING: GOOD Newcastle Thunder have achieved the status of a "good" Academy, awarded to them by the independent accreditation on their first assessment. There is a clear and definitive pathway with the academy that links into the strategic plan and future of the club which embraces all facets of the game in the region. It has good links with educational providers and the player s wellbeing is seen as a key strand of the academy. It is looking to strengthen its player pool within the area through its links with the community game, specifically using its outstanding approach it has through EtP.