Youth angling education programme Fishing for Schools has developed a formal qualification, designed for delivery in schools, colleges and approved centres.
The programme has been designed to blend practical angling with conservation, personal development and employability skills, ensuring learners thrive in class, on the bankside and beyond.
It will be aimed at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 learners, post 16s for- alternative provision and referral units, learners with special educational needs (SEND), those being home-schooled as well as teachers and coaches who want a structured pathway with robust quality assurance
The programme is meant to be engaging, offering practical learning that supports attendance and behaviour, will deliver transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, planning and reflection while also having conversation at its heart with the addition of aquatic ecology, fish welfare and habitat care elements.
It will also cover safe practice, from water safety and risk awareness to equipment care, ensuring logical progression and providing clear next steps into sport, conservation, volunteering and work while adding links to numeracy, literacy, IT, and science through applied outdoor learning.
Among the skills covered will be water safety and safe conduct near open water, angling equipment, set up and care, casting, playing and landing fish responsibly, aquatic ecology and conservation in the UK, recording, reflection and personal goal setting plus teamwork problem solving.
An assessment will combine practical observation, short knowledge checks and a learner portfolio.
It will blend classroom, bank side and guided self-study sessions, with a small coach to pupil ratio, flexible guided learning hours to fit timetables and a range of venues.
Fishing For schools director Charles Jardine explained: “We welcome enquiries from schools, colleges, alternative provision, charities and community organisations.
“Approved centres will meet quality assurance requirements, agree to moderation visits and use standard resources. A train-the-trainer route and a coach licensing model will be offered for partners without in house staff.
“Pricing depends on group size, venue, travel, equipment and the final guided learning hours. We expect tiered pricing for schools and community partners, with bursary support available where funding permits.
Currently in development, pilot delivery is planned from September 2026 subject to centre approvals.