Manager Dave Jones praised Cardiff City's new learning initiative after it was launched at the Stadium in the presence of education minister Leighton Andrews.
The project - Learning Through Sport Learn It! Play it! Enjoy it! - is an initiative devised by club staff with the support of the LEA and funded by Basic Skills Cymru in the Welsh Assembly Government. Targeted at both boys and girls, it focuses on encouraging disengaged pupils in years 6 to 8 to improve their basic skills.
Dave, who attended the launch along with City chairman Peter Ridsdale and midfield stars Joe Ledley and Stephen McPhail, said: "It's highly important for the community and local schools who are going to send children here and it's fantastic for us as a football club.
"The staff who do a lot of the very important work here are the ones the fans don't get to see. They are doing a fantastic job. Scott Young is remembered for scoring a goal against Leeds, but what he's doing now is as good if not better because the work he is doing along with Steve Ellis and Marc Cayhill is so vital.
"I've just seen the youngsters in the classroom and they are as happy as Larry. This is going to be a great project."
The three-year pilot scheme aims to develop students' numeracy, literacy and ICT skills but also has a strong health, fitness and wellbeing element within it in accordance with the National Curriculum for Wales. It will be offered to all Cardiff school clusters supporting both the Community and Education sectors within the authority.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews said: "The Learning through Sport initiative is an excellent example of how we can encourage enthusiasm for learning in young people from an early age.
"This exciting programme shows our commitment to improving both the life skills and basic skills of young people in the Cardiff area. I am extremely pleased to be launching this scheme which I know will make a huge difference to the lives of the young people taking part in it."
Learning Through Sport is the final link in the club's educational pathway, developed now from Key Stage 2 to 5, and highlights the good working partnerships already in existence with our neighbouring schools and Local Education Authority.
The initiative aims to reach over 350 learners in two years. Currently, the schools taking part include Michaelston Community College, Fitzalan and Cathays High Schools, along with their feeder Primary schools.
Club head of education and welfare Steve Ellis said: "At Cardiff City FC we understand the importance of helping to support the literacy and numeracy skills of our young people. We understand the link between low literacy levels and future life chances. We are proud to take part in this initiative because we understand how for these young people 'failure is not an option."
