The Learning Zone at the National Ice Centre is a state-of-the-art IT classroom that was opened in June 2003 by Olympic Gold Medallist Jane Torvill. The Department for Education and Skills, City of Nottingham Education Department and The National Ice Centre have joined in partnership to create our study support centre, which is based inside the Ice Centre complex.

This year we have invited a range of key stage 2 and 3 pupils to the centre for a 15-week course called 'Eduskate' 15 pupils from 8 different schools are invited to attend the course.

We provide out-of-school-hours study support activities for children from inner-city schools, giving them a chance to enjoy facilities that they would not normally have access to. Our aim is to raise standards in schools by building self esteem and motivation.

A summer school that combines educational activities with ice skating, dance and fitness takes place during the school holidays.
This has proved to be very popular and is open to invited youngsters from Nottingham city schools.

 

Mission Statement

The National Ice Centre Learning Zone will seek to raise achievement by motivating young people to become more effective learners through activities that will enrich the curriculum, enhance key skills and raise self-esteem. The Centre will help to develop confident, self-motivated and independent young people with a positive attitude to learning.

 

What is Playing For Success?

This is a national initiative to raise educational standards in our schools. Study Centres have been set up in major sporting venues and they focus on helping children to get up to speed in the key skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT; the foundation stones of their education. Already there is evidence that the children who attend these centres come out with improved skills, motivation and self-esteem, giving them a real boost and in some cases, a new start on which they can build back at school.

 

The NIC Learning Zone

The Learning Zone was opened in June 2003 by Olympic Gold Medallist Jane Torvill. It is the first study support centre to be based within a national sporting centre. All ice sports and dance are used to motivate learning as well as the entertainment element of The Nottingham Arena.

 

 

The Eduskate Programme

Children from inner city schools volunteer to do extra education and will be rewarded with coached skating lessons. The youngsters are aged between 9-14 and are offered places at The Learning Zone through their school. They are provided with transport, given refreshments and then take part in learning activities.