The education team provides BTEC Sport courses based at the People’s Pension Stadium, Crawley Town FC in partnership with The Holy Trinity School. The courses are taught by fully qualified teachers, who have an employment history teaching and working in professional football as well as football coaching qualifications.
The teachers are full-time employees of Crawley Town, which allows the staff to adapt the education to be football career specific and giving students a unique access to the various departments at a professional football club.
As well as academics and study, the education academy provides competitive football playing opportunities in the National Football Youth League against other English Football League and Premier League education academy programmes.
The football programme is coached by UEFA licensed coaches and has been supported this season by Crawley Town first team coach Edu Rubio, who has provided elite level guidance to coaches and players, as well as access for the programme’s high level footballers to train with the first team squad.
Like many other organisations, Crawley Town has had to quickly adapt to changing circumstances following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the u19 education programme has been no different. Changes were implemented by staff to ensure students are still receiving the academic, support and development they need through this difficult time.
Following a strong start to the year, both academically and competitively, the students and staff were disappointed the year has been curtailed since the coronavirus outbreak.
However, staff and students alike have adapted quickly to working remotely. Prior to the lockdown being enforced, students were given the opportunity to loan Crawley Town laptops so that they could continue to work from home, and staff have been busy creating on-line resources to allow students to continue meeting the pre-set work deadlines.
Alongside Holy Trinity School, Crawley Town’s teachers have been working to ensure that progress for students from Level 2 continues onto the Level 3, and that Level 3 second year students move into Higher Education.
With the advice from the Department of Education and Pearson, final grades are being gradually worked out as students submit their assignments electronically for teachers to mark from home. The application of the students and support from parents at home has been very commendable throughout this time.
As well as ensuring progression for current students is fully supported, Crawley Town staff have also been working with prospective students who are due to be enrolled in September 2020.
The normal process has been for potential students to trial and interview with the club, however during this time staff have adapted the approach by looking at the level of the team the potential student plays for and getting references from coaches as well as references and transcripts from current teachers.
So far, the education academy has confirmed 15 new students for enrolment in 2020-21 and a number of other students are being considered. The course is capped at 40 students, a number the course regularly achieves.
The programme is still on the lookout for a couple of key footballing additions, including a goalkeeper, a central defender and a striker, so if there are any year 11 students who think they may fit the bill and would like to play for Crawley Town, they can contact us at education@crawleytownfc.com
Potential students should include the name of their team, the name and contact details of their current coach, and the name and contact details of their school tutor.
Visit us on www.ctcommunityfoundation.com/further-education
Instagram @ctfc_education
Email: education@crawleytownfc.com
Call: 01293 410000 ext. 4
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