English football superstar Beth Mead calls for “Girls’ football to be the most played sport” by Dubai’s children at Cognita’s Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, Ranches Primary, Horizon English and Horizon International schools

In a passionate call for the empowerment of young women, Beth Mead, the newly announced Founding Ambassador for ENRICH ME, Cognita’s whole child programme at the Tier 1

• Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai,
• Ranches Primary School,
• Horizon English School; and,
• Horizon International School

has said her hope is that one day girls’ football will be the most played sport across its schools. The call comes as part of her role in launching the enrichment programme for the more than 4,000 students across its schools in Dubai.

Beth Mead, the Arsenal and England national team professional footballer, who has inspired girls and women across the world following her extraordinary achievements as part of the winning England national football team at the the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, told SchoolsCompared:

“I wish I had access to something like the Cognita ENRICH ME programme when I was at school.

I am a great believer in encouraging young people to try new things that will help them discover what they are passionate about – and this programme does exactly that.

“I hope to inspire the young people at the Cognita schools in the Middle East to get involved in sport and the arts as early as possible, and to use the support of the expert coaches in the programme to develop their skills and talents”

Miss Mead continued by setting a high bar for the new programme:

“I am honoured to be the founding ambassador for Cognita ENRICH ME football – and I would love to see girls’ football become the most played sport in the Cognita Middle East school family.”

Beth Mead has become a legend in the “beautiful game” in her extraordinary capacity to score goals – and in a unique and inspirational way. Many say too, somewhat controversially, that her technique betters that of many professional male players. Many celebrate her role in establishing the female game, for so long the underdog, as the equal, if not better, than its male counterpart. Read more about women’s football here.

The programme, only available at Cognita schools, is designed to empower students across skills and activities that enrich all our lives, from sport and music to the broader Arts. As part of the programme, students at Cognita schools are coached by experts to inspire their skills and engagement in activities that will provide the lifelong foundations for an enriched life within, and long after, leaving school. It aims to inspire leadership skills in all Cognita students and open-up career opportunities for its students based on the individual ambitions, potential and aspirations of each individual child.

A core focus of ENRICH ME is on football and swimming as well as broader academic excellence.  Whilst the programme is definitively inclusive – not only targeted at those who are naturally gifted in any one area, the aim is that every student will develop advanced skills in its areas of provision – and achieve results that are “professional.” ENRICH ME is also designed to extend the curriculum, not be an afterthought add-on.

Cognita believes that Beth Mead’s Beth involvement will provide its students with a meaningful and inspiring role model that captures its own values of inclusion and aspiration. The Group invested considerable time and thought in choosing an individual that captured its own values and aspiration for students perfectly. the aim too is that Miss Mead’s engagement will give its students direct access to the sporting hero’s expert coaching and advice.

The football programme within Coignita ENRICH ME has been designed by Sean O’Shea, ex-Assistant Manager of first division Swedish club, AIK Stockholm. For the most talented students the aim is that it will provide them with unmatched pathways to professional sport.

David Baldwin, Managing Director, Cognita Middle East, explained:

“Beth Mead is an incredible figure in sport and a role model to so many people around the world. We are delighted to welcome her to the Cognita Middle East family.

Having her support within our school community, and access to her knowledge, skills and passion for the game, is invaluable for our coaches and students.

We know that her involvement with the Cognita ENRICH ME programme will inspire every single child who is at a Cognita school in the Middle East and will encourage them to discover their full potential.

We hope that her involvement with the ENRICH ME programme will raise awareness about girls’ football within the school community too.”

The announcement by Cognita of its Founding Ambassador, is one of a series of announcements about the new ENRICH ME programme and the group’s significant investment in whole child initiatives for its students in the UAE.

• The swimming provision is endorsed by Swim England, the national governing body for swimming in England.
• Helen Green, the leading and highly regarded gifted and talented specialist educator in the region, will lead the more-able programmes.

Further information

Read our review of Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai here.

Visit the official Royal Grammar School Guildford web site here.

Read our review of Horizon English School here.

Visit the official Horizon English School web site here.

Read our review of Horizon International School here

Visit the official Horizon International School web site here

Read our review of Ranches Primary School here.

Visit the official Ranches Primary school web site here.

Cognita Schools in the UAE

Visit the Cognita web site here.

Beth Mead, Ambassador, Cognita ENRICH ME UAE

Learn more about Beth Mead here.

Girls’ football in the UAE

Are you are passionate young advocate of girls’ football. Do you think it deserves a bigger profile? Let us know at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

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