Government of Tamil Nadu, British Council and Premier League collaborate to strengthen sports education

• Department of School Education Government of Tamil Nadu and the British Council to provide children with life skills through the power of football and sports
• Premier League Primary Stars in Tamil Nadu will empower teachers to foster supportive learning environments, encouraging children to engage in sports and physical activities
• Programme to enhance curriculum and support primary school faculty, coaches and learners

Tiruchirapalli, 28 February 2025: The Department of School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, British Council, UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange and the Premier League partner for the Premier League Primary Stars initiative in the state. This partnership aims to integrate sports into education, enhancing learning experiences and equipping students with essential life skills.

The collaboration aligns with Tamil Nadu’s vision for holistic student development, reinforcing the role of sports in fostering discipline, teamwork, and resilience among young learners. The initiative builds on the Premier League Primary Stars programme, which leverages the global appeal of the Premier League and the British Council’s expertise to support educators in delivering high-quality physical education. By creating an engaging and supportive environment, the programme enables children to develop key life skills through sports.

This initiative follows the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of Tamil Nadu and the British Council in India, which aims to equip children with life skills through sport.

In a video message, the Hon’ble Minister Thiru Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Minister for School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, shared his thoughts on the occasion of the valedictory ceremony, he said, “I am honoured to be here today at the valedictory function of the Premier League Primary Stars (PLPS), a significant partnership between the British Council and the Tamil Nadu School Education Department. This initiative has provided structured training to a number of district Physical Education teachers at Kongunadu Engineering College, Trichy, equipping them with the skills to promote leadership, teamwork, and gender equality among students. I sincerely thank the British Council for their invaluable support in integrating physical education with personal, social, health, and economic education in Tamil Nadu. Their contribution—through training, curriculum materials, and expertise—has ensured that this programme creates a lasting impact in our schools.”

Janaka Pushpanathan, Director South India, British Council, said, “We are pleased to be delivering on our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu and strengthening our partnership with the Department of School Education to implement the Premier League Primary Stars programme. This initiative marks a key milestone in our collaboration with the Premier League to drive positive change in schools and communities worldwide. By leveraging the power of sport, we aim to enhance physical education, instil essential life skills, and strengthen core competencies among young learners, creating a lasting impact across the state.”

Having already been implemented in Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, and Odisha, Premier League Primary Stars has now extended its reach to Tamil Nadu, further strengthening its impact across India. In the first phase of the programme in Tamil Nadu, the training focused on equipping teachers from government schools with methodologies to incorporate sports, particularly football, into their teaching frameworks.

The Leaders Course training was attended by 76 Physical Education teachers from government schools across all districts in Tamil Nadu. These teachers were equipped with the necessary skills to incorporate football-based learning methodologies into their teaching. The training was conducted in three phases, and the final phase concluded on 28 February 2025. The training course was co-delivered by Chris Scopes, Schools Development Manager at Ipswich Town FC Foundation, who brought valuable teaching and coaching experience from his work with teachers and children in physical education and school sports settings.

Nick Perchard, Director of Community at the Premier League said, “The Premier League is committed to sharing its success by helping to develop the game and communities around the world. Working in partnership with the British Council and other local organisations, we are determined that the positive social impact of Premier League football is felt well beyond the game itself, supporting community leaders to positively impact individuals who need us most.”

One of the PLPS teacher participants from Tirunelveli district, said, “this programme taught me the importance of interaction with children in the classroom and that lesson delivery can’t be one-sided. The training gave me the confidence that even in confined places we can achieve boundless success through proper communication and sports is a key medium to induce overall development in children”.

Premier League Primary Stars in India leverages the Premier League’s appeal and the British Council’s global network to equip educators with high-quality physical education and sports training. The programme fosters a supportive learning environment, encouraging children to engage in sports while developing essential life skills. In its first phase, the Leaders Course training saw participation from 76 government school PE teachers in Tamil Nadu, who were trained in football-based learning methodologies.

Since 2007, the Premier League and British Council have worked together to develop the skills of more than 40,000 football coaches, referees, and educators, working with more than 2.1 million children and young people in 29 countries. In India, the programme has trained over 7,300 educators and coaches across 18 states, benefiting more than 124,000 students.

For more information about the British Council and Premier League partnership, visit https://premierleague.britishcouncil.org/stories/india