Football in British Independent Schools: All you need to know

What role does football really play at British boarding schools?

It is easy to think that Independent Schools focus more on rugby than football but this would be a misconception. Football was a major sport in some schools before the game of rugby was invented, there is a rich history of football in British Boarding Schools. More pupils participate in football than either rugby or hockey and the number of girls football fixtures has tripled in the past 4 years, it is exciting times for those prospective pupils who have a passion for football.

How does school football compare to Premier League Youth Academies?

The English Premier League is known throughout Europe as one of major European leagues, their Youth Academies tend to operate in a separate sphere to schools’ football but there are some partnerships. For international students it only possible to play for just for an Academy if one parent also lives in the UK. The vast majority of pupils choose to be fully integrated within the school and train and represent their school accordingly.

What competitions and leagues exist in school football?

Regular school fixtures tend to be on a regional basis to limit travelling time and in addition to these there are cup competitions. The highest level of competition is the Boodles ISFA Cup followed by the ISFA Trophy, Shield and Bowl, these competitions occur at both Under 18 and Under 15. Some of the more stronger Independent Schools will also enter teams into the National English Schools Football Association (ESFA) which includes all schools in the country both state and Independent.

How do football programmes vary across British boarding schools?

Nearly all independent schools will offer football but the depth of the provision and overall football programme can be widely different. For some it is a glorified activity whilst other schools give a complete footballing experience.

Schools also tend to be part of a league, usually at both 1st team and 2nd team levels. The HUDL League is very well respected as it continues to maintain a high standard of football in all the participating schools. There are 10 schools in the HUDL League consisting of: Ardingly, Bedes, Bradfield, Charterhouse, Hamptons, Millfield, Repton, Rossall, Royal Russell, Shrewsbury. The experience of playing in this league is that all matches are very competitive and the teams would be able to effectively compete with Youth Academy teams. These schools offer a two term footballing experience and are considered to be top tier football schools.

There are other leagues for example the Mercian Independent Schools League which includes Bedford, Oakham, Oundle, Stowe and Uppingham amongst others, at these schools fixtures tend to be one term only although training and fitness sessions will be throughout two terms. The standard is still good and competitive and this system allows pupils to represent their school in more than one sport.

What does football training look like at top boarding schools in England and Scotland?

The coaching and playing experience will probably be slightly different at each school, however there will naturally be a good deal of similarities. Working hard in training both collectively and individually is essential for all the schools/teams mentioned above, coaches have high expectations and team places are very competitive. Sport is many things but enjoyment, progression and shared experiences with teammates significantly contribute to an individual’s character development. The more elite schools will offer a training schedule similar to the following:

• Monday - short session, match analysis and/or light coaching
• Tuesday - 2 hour coaching session
• Wednesday - short session strength and conditioning work
• Thursday - 2 hour coaching session (sometimes a matchday)
• Friday - Light training eg set pieces
• Saturday - Fixtures
• Sunday - Rest or light work in the fitness centre

Schools below the top tier offer a slightly reduced weekly schedule for example not including Monday and Wednesday. Pupils though will continue to have access to the fitness centre and they can book sessions with Strength Fitness and Conditioning coaches.

How is girls’ football developing at boarding schools?

Girls’ football is the fastest growing sport in Independent Schools and the provision is rapidly changing. Schools are developing excellent football programmes and there are ISFA Under 18 and Under 15 competitions. Schools which are ahead of others include Mount Kelly, Rossall, Millfield, Shrewsbury and Repton.

There are discussions for Girls Football to follow similar leagues as boys but as yet teams do not exist at every age group in every school to enable block fixtures at the weekends.

Recreational football: A place for all players

Schools will usually also offer football as an activity for both boys and girls, this suits those pupils who wish to enjoy and participate in football but do not wish to commit themselves to representing a team and the associated commitments. These sessions maybe outdoors or indoors and can be on a year group or house basis.

How can I find the right school for my football-loving child?

There are many more schools than mentioned here that offer a great footballing experience for boys and girls. If you wish to explore further a good starting point is the ISFA website https://www.isfa.org.uk. The team of Stanford & Ackel is also available to help during the selection and the application process.

Your interest in football is naturally only one factor in your potential choice of school, you will need to decide how important it is for your stay in an Independent Boarding School in England. You may want to decide what level is most appropriate and then discuss this with a Stanford & Ackel consultant to establish a short-list of schools. Exceptional footballers can also qualify for a scholarship.

When visiting schools do ask about which term football is offered and for how many terms. Do remember it is not necessarily all about the competitions and a good standard can be found in the regular inter-school matches. After all the year abroad will be about experiencing many things and if your son or daughter has managed to include improvement in football whilst also having had a great deal of fun and enjoyment with it, then it really will have been a wonderfully successful experience for them.