QPR Trust celebrate year of education success

QPR in the Community Trust are proud to reflect on another hugely successful year of education delivery across schools in west London.

Over the past three terms, our education department has worked with thousands of pupils to deliver assemblies, workshops, interventions and tournaments designed to inspire young people, support their development and celebrate inclusion.

Autumn Term – Building Inclusive Environments

The academic year began with a focus on creating inclusive and welcoming environments in schools, in line with the Premier League Value – Be Connected.

This year’s Black History Month theme, Reclaiming Narratives, explored overlooked stories from the past, including pioneering figures like Walter Tull and Mary Philip, alongside our colleague Pablo Blackwood’s family contributions to Britain during World War II. This linked into our anti-discrimination workshops and assemblies.

Workshops for World Mental Health Day highlighted the importance of safe and supportive school environments, while Anti-Bullying Week encouraged pupils to reflect on respect, both on and off the pitch.

Through our partnership with AllChild, pupils developed teamwork skills and built resilience via football-based interventions supported by Premier League Primary Stars, with primary and secondary students visiting MATRADE Loftus Road to discuss inclusion and allyship while enjoying a stadium tour.

The term concluded with an author-led event in W12, where pupils who had entered writing competitions met Zoe Antoniades, learning about her journey as a writer and the inspiration behind her Cally and Jimmy series. We linked this into being both ambitious and inspiring, two of the Premier League Values.

Spring Term – Celebrating Achievement & Participation

The spring term offered a variety of opportunities, with a focus on celebrating women’s achievements and encouraging literacy and participation.

For International Women’s Day, assemblies highlighted inspiring figures, while girls-only football sessions promoted confidence and enjoyment on the pitch.

Our second annual Book Drive, in partnership with the Children’s Book Project, collected over 4,000 books for local schools and Wormwood Scrubs, thanks to the support of schools, fans, players and academy families.

On the football front, Sacred Heart (Hillingdon) represented QPR at the Premier League Primary Stars Regional Tournament, while Salusbury Primary won the EFL Regional Tournament to earn a place in the National Final at Wembley. The term also included support for borough-wide competitions such as the H&F Borough tournaments, Ark tournaments and the Mayor’s Cup.

Summer Term – Progression & Celebration

The summer term provided opportunities to celebrate achievements and prepare for the future. Our ongoing partnership with AllChild continued, with Salusbury Primary marking the end of their programme with a visit to MATRADE Loftus Road. Pupils enjoyed a stadium tour, teamwork workshops and were awarded Premier League certificates and books from the National Literacy Trust.

We also began an exciting new partnership with Manor School in Brent, welcoming pupils to W12 to explore our sensory room and learn more about the club. Across several primary schools, our transition workshops supported year six pupils as they prepared for secondary school, focusing on confidence, independence and problem-solving.

Competitions were another highlight, with Loftus Road hosting the Mayor’s Cup final, London’s largest primary schools’ tournament. Pupils experienced walking out of the players’ tunnel and competing on the pitch, with Larmenier & Sacred Heart lifting the trophy after a 2-0 win over West London Free School. Salusbury Primary also represented QPR at the Utilita Kids Cup National Final at Wembley, enjoying an unforgettable experience despite narrowly missing out on the trophy.

From assemblies and workshops to competitions and unforgettable experiences, this year has provided countless opportunities for young people to learn, grow and thrive.

Launched in 2017, Premier League Primary Stars is the Premier League's primary school education programme. It uses the appeal of football to inspire children aged five-to-11 to be active and develop essential skills. Thanks to funding from the Premier League and the Premier League Charitable Fund's partners, Premier League Primary Stars has now been delivered in more than 19,000 (86%) primary schools across England and Wales.

To learn more or get involved, please contact Anna Hampshire, Primary Stars manager – anna.hampshire@qpr.co.uk.