This lack of experience was one of a number of issues that graduates from Roehampton University wanted to resolve through continuing professional development. Lawry Price, assistant dean of learning and teaching, said graduates sometimes arrived at schools to find parents running clubs, and that outside sports clubs often had a big presence in communities: “They find it difficult to get involved because they feel they’re encroaching on other people’s territory.”

Students also wanted CPD to give them more experience of teaching different age groups, subject-specific mentoring, and compensating for a lack of adequate resources.

The findings emerged at a seminar held at the annual conference of the Scottish Educational Research Association.