A HEREFORD school has been praised by the Rugby Football Union for developing young referees after the option to take up the role was included in the school’s curriculum.

Several students from The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School have received their Entry Level Referee Award and now officiate matches for schools and clubs in and around Hereford-shire.

Refereeing forms part of the Btech first certificate in sport, as well as the officiating and leadership module available at GCSE level.

Now the RFU are encouraging other schools around the country to run similar projects in the hope that more students get involved in rugby.

The RFU’s Referee Development Officer for the Midlands Alan Biggs said: “As well as producing qualified referees, the Bishop’s project has helped in the personal development of youngsters, taught them man-management skills and improved their self-confidence.

“The students now referee games leaving the teachers and coaches to coach. This helps to improve the level of players.”

The Bishop’s project is being co-ordinated by coach Mike Stubbs, as well as ex-Worcester Warriors academy hooker Elliott Bee and Gary Preece. Headteacher Sara Catlow-Hawkins believes that the project can offer many other benefits to those pupils who decide to take it up.

She said: “Refereeing creates positive role models. We see students who have taken the referee course coming forward as prefects and interacting with youngsters because of the respect that they have gained through refereeing.”

Currently involved in the project is 16-year-old Alex Bartlett who believes that it has benefited her.

She said: “I come from a rugby family but the course has given me an insight into rugby.

“It has helped me to learn the laws and I’m a lot more confident now.”