The Pathway

On 1 April 2006, UK Sport assumed full responsibility for all Olympic performance-related support in England, from the identification of talent right the way through to performing at the top level to help improve performance and drive success in the future. In taking on this new responsibility, and remaining focused on a 'no compromise' approach, UK Sport has redefined the terms under which funding and support will be provided. It operates a World Class Performance Pathway at three key levels:

• World Class Podium Programme
• World Class Podium Potential Programme
• World Class Talent Programme

To aid a wider understanding amongst all sports the terminology for each programme will be the same.

World Class Podium (WCP)

This Programme will support sports with realistic medal capabilities at the next Olympic Games (i.e. a maximum of four years away from the podium). At this level, an assessment of realistic medal projections determines the required investment per sport using the models introduced post-Beijing for Olympic sports. Athlete places will be distributed to a sport based on a combination of the sport's: results at the last Games; competitive track record; project medal capability in the future; demonstrated ability to constantly produce athletes through the pathway. Support is provided through a performance programme with the governing body and an athlete personal award.

This programme is managed by the National Performance Director.

World Class Podium Potential (WCPPP)

This Programme will support the stage of the Pathway immediately beneath the Podium Programme. For other sports it will comprise athletes that are typically six years away from the Podium. This is thought, due to the length of development time for a Modern Pentathlete to be slightly un-realistic and an extended time will be implemented. A well established and accepted Selection and Review Policy for both the WCPPP and Youth Team Selection for International Competitions is in place, this is supplemented with a set of consideration criteria. Funding by means of an APA has been set at 3 levels for WCPPP athletes.

Level D APA

• Athlete must be in full-time training at the Bath National Training Centre
• Meets individual performance targets set
• Complies in full with contract/charter

Level E APA

• Athlete must be within a maximum of 18 months of the year of reporting for full time training at the Bath National Training Centre and commit in writing to do so
• Meets individual performance targets set
• Complies in full with contract/charter

Level F APA

• Athlete must have agreed in principle in writing that they will report for training at the Bath National Training Centre when eligible by age or stage of education to do so
• Meets all WCP performance targets
• Complies in full with contract/charter

World Class Talent Programme (WCTP)

This programme is will be designed to support the identification and confirmation of athletes who have the potential to progress through the World Class Pathway with the help of targeted investment. Although there will be no direct payment of APA to WCTP athletes, funding will be provided to raise the level of sophistication and coaching through centralised training for the athletes that will be new to this programme.

It is expected that these athletes will have the right attributes to go on and effectively compete effectively on the world stage. Selection for GB teams and Internationals will see no change for these athletes.

Additional Scheme working alongside the World Class Pathway Programme

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)

The intention of the scheme is to help talented athletes who wish to progress with a formal academic programme but maintain an involvement in performance sport. Strategically, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) will provide a coherent support system, driven through partnership working between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Further Education Colleges (FECs), National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB's) and other sports organisations. The scheme will operate around a national network in England of 9 regional consortia, based around a hub or core cluster of Higher Education Institutions working in close partnership with other interested institutions in the area. TASS will normally be offering scholarships of up to £3,000 to students aged 19 to 25, and bursaries of up to £1,000 for any talented young person aged 16 to 19 not in higher education. TASS athletes will from 1st April be invited to National Training with World Class Talent athletes.

Athlete's Charter

Introduction

Our continued success in the future as a sport is through a closely-knit partnership where we all work together to help develop a strong, well respected, successful sport. The World Class Performance Programme of Pentathlon GB is responsible for the World Class Pathway within the Olympic disciplines of Modern Pentathlon.

Through the World Class Pathway Programme we are planning and establishing a new programme and initiatives that will provide clear winning pathways for our young athletes and help them aspire to your level of performance. It is because we want to help you and every talented athlete reach their full potential, that we feel it is important in 2013 and beyond, to introduce a document in which we openly clarify our respective responsibilities.

This Charter should be seen as a step forward in your development. Its main purpose is to clarify our desire and commitment to help you plan and develop your athletic career as a nominated and selected performing athlete. The Charter summarises the services that we intend to provide to you and informs you of our policies and procedures. It also indicates the responsibilities that we want you to observe as one of our leading young athletes. The Charter also lists certain obligations that are a requirement of the UIPM.

Pentathlon GB has managed to secure funding for our World Class Pathway Programme from UK Sport and Sport. Funding does not come without responsibilities and in return for Lottery and Exchequer Funding, as a sport, we are expected to achieve specific performance targets in various major championships and competitions each year.

Funding enables us to provide and co-ordinate services that will help you develop your athletic career. During your career with Pentathlon GB you will probably have already benefited directly from these services either nationally or regionally. We hope that this will continue.

Membership of Pentathlon GB World Class Pathway Programme in 2013 is conditional on entering into this Charter as it confirms the responsibilities of all parties working at a World Class level. You should therefore carefully read the statements and consult the Pathway Programme Manager if there is anything you do not fully understand. When re-selected or as a new programme athlete you will be required to sign in agreement to the Charter.

Download the charter in pdf format.

Identifying and Developing World Class Talent

The 2013 Pentathlon GB Annual Series of National Talent Identification Camps have now been set as:

5th & 6th January 2013
26th & 27th January 2013

Each weekend will be held at the Pentathlon GB Academy, Hartpury College Gloucester.

The process for PGB Athletes accessing the Series of National Talent Identification Camps is detailed in the PGB Entry and Exit Procedure Policy for the WC Youth Programmes which is available here. To date our Talent ID camps have provided the World Class Programme with athletes that have developed through the WC Pathway from phase one Talent ID recruitment to gaining an Olympic Qualification Standard.

This year, following on from the PGB Elite Identification Programme initiative and in line with other successful Olympic Sports and the bespoke UK Sport Talent ID team, we are trawling the country for athletes suitable for Talent Transfer to PGB from other sports. Those that meet the consideration standards in the physical disciplines can be invited to join our Talent ID Camps for profiling and assessment alongside our established youth pentathletes.

You can download the Entry and Exit Procedure HERE.

TASS

The overall aim of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is to help talented athletes who wish to progress with a formal academic programme but maintain an involvement in performance sport.

The scheme will operate around a national network in England of 9 regional consortia, based around a hub or core cluster of Higher Education Institutions.

The Aim for Modern Pentathlon

The TASS programme will aim to provide a seamless transition for Modern Pentathletes on the World Class Talent and Development Programmes, filling the gap in current provision.

TASS is an integral part of Pentathlon’s World Class Performance Programme and Long Term Athlete Development model (LTAD).

Due to the level of support for the whole Performance Programme Pathway from UK Sport and Sport England which has resulted in a smaller number of funded athletes on the Talented Athlete Programme, the TASS programme will have a greater impact in supporting those athletes wishing to combine studying with training.

Pentathlon GB has a track record of success at the highest level and are committed to build and continue this. The level of support that TASS offers the athletes makes it an integral part of delivering this aim.

A copy of the framework document can be found here.