2017 has been a brilliant year for our BTEC Football Education Scholarship having record numbers of students on the course. Throughout the year students have been studying for their course at the Wham Stadium, taking part in Futsal and Football and volunteering in a variety of sessions around the community. Students leave with a great knowledge of sport ready to push themselves towards their chosen career.
Practical
On the practical side of the course, all students take part in 90 minute training sessions on a state of the art 4G, 3 times a week, every week of the term. Wearing their all black mitre kit to training, they work hard to improve themselves ready to take part in our weekly fixtures.
While on the course our students get the chance to wear the Red Adidas Kit and Represent Accrington Stanley in the North West Development League and against such teams as Manchester City, Manchester United, Burnley, ASFC Youth team, Blackpool, Preston and many more. One of the many advantages of our course is being able to play against other clubs and it gives our students the chance to represent Accrington Stanley in a competitive league.
Our students also take part in the EFL Futsal competition which is an indoor 5 a side game played with a lined area and a heavier ball. This sport has less players which means more touches of the ball and a greater chance to work on their fitness too. Our teams face off against a range of different North West teams every other week and they also enter the National Futsal Cup which could mean they get to play at St georges Park.
Education
2017 saw us gain record numbers for both our BTEC in Sport courses, with them also achieving some of the highest grades. Over 30 students finished the course last year but this September we saw a rise once again with 44 students beginning the course. Our students have a unique learning environment, with our classrooms being situated at the Wham Stadium and allowing our students to rub shoulders with the club players and staff. Upon the course our students study a wide range of topics to build a knowledge of sport with topics including, Anatomy and Physiology, Fitness Testing and Sports Coaching.
Exit Routes
Upon completion of their course this year, 80% of our students found themselves with places at university studying such courses as Sports Coaching, Sports Business or PE and School Sport. Others have decided to go into work, with one even working within our own coaching staff taking sessions around the community to build his experience. Upon the course we spend time at different universities and bring visitors in to help our students understand the options which they may have upon leaving the course and as each one of our students are different we try to make sure we have an option for everybody. Many of our students who have left or who are currently on the course have gained coaching and refereeing qualifications which allow them to earn a living within sport while they are still studying.
Recruitment
We can frequently be found in Assemblies, Lunch times stalls, PE lessons and Careers fairs promoting our course to those year 11 leavers looking to pursue a career in sport.
Every week of the school year we are in every high school in Hyndburn and many more in the surrounding Rossendale and Ribble Valley area, providing Football and Futsal sessions with year 10s and 11s. These sessions are a great chance to meet our possible new recruits but also give our current students a chance to have a leading role in the coaching of these sessions. This way, potential new students can see one of the many benefits of joining our course while enjoying the Futsal or Football session.
As we now move into the New Year, the recruitment of our new cohort of students for 2018 has begun and we are already on course for record numbers (once again).
For even more information about what our course can offer students or if you know of anyone who might be interested in joining our ever growing course you can visit the links below or contact the office 01254 304071
