Brackley Town Football Club are delighted to announce an exciting new opportunity, creating enhanced opportunities for young footballers.

Brackley Town Football Club is at the heart of our town engaging families and the wider community providing exceptional sporting opportunities for young people. We have come together in partnership with VLUK to provide our Football and Education Programme for post-16 students.

The course creates new opportunities for College students to work, train and play within a professional football club environment, while opening up pathways towards careers in the professional sport.

The new pathway brings education and elite football closer together, helping players balance their academic development with their ambitions on the pitch.

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT:
Male and female students train every day with our UEFA qualified coaches and have the opportunity to represent the club at U18 level competing in league and cup fixtures at an appropriate level. Each student has a personalised football development plan to direct your training programme to build on strengths and improve your all-round game.

Facilities
The football programme is based at Brackley Town FC’s St James Park stadium with state-of-the-art facilities including:
• 3G Pitch – we train a minimum of three times a week
• First team floodlit grass pitch
• Gym
• Classroom for performance analysis and classroom-based taught sessions
• The Venue, Anne Leighton Suite and boardroom for refreshments and use for special events.

Our staff
Our staff team has an abundance of teaching and coaching experience and is passionate about working with students and helping young people reach their fullest potential.

All of our football coaches are fully qualified to at least UEFA B Level

Progression
This programme prepares students to continue study into Higher Education at University. Others will seek employment and further training where they can specialise in the career path of their choice.

There are an abundance of exit routes available to students once they have completed their studies, with possible careers including:

PE Teacher
Sports Nutritionist
Sports Performance Analyst
Sports Therapist
Sports Psychologist
Personal Trainer
Sports / Football Coach
Sports Massage Therapist
Leisure Manager
Sports Journalism
Special Forces – Army, RAF, Marines
Sports Scholarships in the USA
and much more!

ACADEMIC PROGRAMME:
You attend lessons at the club through teaching staff from our partner VLUK receiving pastoral care, guidance and support from an experienced team. Your timetable combines study with your football programme. The BTEC Sport course is equivalent to three A Levels earning UCAS points for university entry or access into employment or an apprenticeship.

The curriculum
A BTEC National Extended Diploma is made up of a series of units.
Mandatory units – all units must be taken:

• Careers in the Sport and Active Leisure Industry
• Health, Wellbeing and Sport
• Developing Coaching Skills
• Applied Coaching Skills
• Research Project in Sport
• Sport Development
• Self-employment in Sport and Physical Activity

Optional units:
• Sports Psychology
• Nutrition for Physical Performance
• Anatomy and Physiology in Sport
• Sporting Injuries
• Functional Sports Massage
• Fitness Testing
• Fitness Training
• Technical and Tactical Skills in Sport
• Rules, Regulations and Officiating in Sport
• Practical Sports Application
• Influence of Technology in Sport and Physical Activity
• Organising Events in Sport and Physical Activities
• Ethical and Current Issues in Sport
• Marketing Communications
• Corporate Social Responsibility In Sport
• Sport and Leisure Facility Operations
• Sports Tourism
• School Sport Delivery

Age
School Leavers 16+
Course Type
Full time

Course duration
Two years
Start date
September 2027
Fees
Free (16-18 year olds)
Entry requirements
Entry requirements are five GCSEs at 4 or above. However we have discretion to accept students onto the programme so come and talk to us about your next steps. We provide re-sit opportunities for maths and English where you have yet to attain level 4 (this is mandatory for all post-16 students in all settings nationally).

Course progression
Access to higher education HNC Level 4 & HND Level 5
Access to further/higher education, Apprenticeships or full time employment
Access to higher education. Progression into semi and professional sport

Next steps:
To apply for a place or to express your interest and find out more contact
andythompson@brackleytownfc.co.uk