Schools Programme | Rugby & Mentoring for Pupils

a leading schools programme tackling behaviour & engagement

delivering impact

Delivering across England, Wales, and Scotland, SOHK’s evidence-based
two-year programme helps young people
in mainstream secondary schools who are at risk of disengaging from education due to poor attendance, challenging behaviour, or wellbeing needs.

Working in Partnership

We partner with schools to identify students for whom our support will be genuinely life-changing. Our trauma-informed practitioners work directly in schools, using rugby, 1:1 mentoring, and social-emotional learning to rebuild trust, strengthen resilience, and restore school engagement before challenges escalate into persistent absence or exclusion.

The impact of our work is reflected in our student stories, like Khalem who stars in our impact film.

“SOHK changed Khalem’s life; I honestly don’t know where he’d be without it. We went through some hard times with him, but we have our son back.”

– PARENT OF A SOHK PARTICIPANT

What We Do

The SOHK model combines:

Rugby sessions

Sport for resilience, communication & teamwork

1:1 mentoring

1-2-1 and group support from trained practitioners

personal development

Grows confidence & skills for life

Together, these elements help students develop the skills needed to succeed in school and beyond. Underpinning every programme is our 3Cs framework – giving young people Confidence, Control, and Connection. Developed by Dr. Chris Harwood and Dr. Karl Steptoe, this evidence-based approach turns lived experiences into learning opportunities, helping young people build resilience, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills.

“The SOHK programme is very well organised, with core values that seek to improve young people’s experiences at school. For us, it has been a programme of skills-based improvements — students working as a team, building positive relationships with each other and staff, and carrying those skills into their future.”
– Teacher from a school in Lambeth, London — AY 2025/26

100

of teachers would recommend SOHK to other schools

83

of pupils report feeling they’ve improved their self-awareness

86

of pupils report feeling more engaged at school

Supporting your School’s Ofsted Assessment

SOHK’s evidence-based school engagement programme helps schools address factors that can affect attendance, behaviour and attainment. By building pupils’ confidence, self-control and connection to school, the programme supports improved engagement in education, increased attendance and better educational outcomes, while contributing directly to the areas Ofsted assesses under Personal Development and Behaviour & Attitudes.