ALTON College is to build on its reputation as an educational innovator by working with the Chelsea Foundation to develop a Chelsea Football Club/Alton College Football Academy.

According to an Alton College spokesman, the new initiative, to be launched in September next year, will build on the college’s “proud and long-standing history of delivering high-quality academic and enrichment opportunities, and its innovative approach to education”.

In addition, the college will deliver numerous opportunities for students interested in any area of sport, from sports medicine to business and sport as part of a wider Alton College sports pathway.

The Chelsea Football Club/Alton College Football Academy will afford prospective students the opportunity to try out for this activity. If successful they will benefit from:

* Six hours of training per week by a qualified Chelsea FC-approved coach.

* Opportunities to compete in national football tournaments.

* The chance to train at the prestigious Chelsea Football Club training ground in Cobham, Surrey.

* Studying toward FA coaching and/or refereeing badge.

* Studying for the Sports Leadership Award Level 2.

* Opportunities to visit Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club.

In addition, Chelsea Foundation will be actively involved in supporting STEM students at the college. Students with a passion for sports medicine, psychology, engineering and chemistry will have opportunities to meet and talk with Chelsea staff, leaders and innovators in these fields.

Another plus is that pupils from local secondary schools will be invited to take part in these activities, especially those gifted and talented students looking to pursue careers in STEM subjects.

Both Alton College and Chelsea Foundation have strong traditions in working with people with special educational needs (SEND) and Chelsea Football Club will be delivering 90 minutes per week of football/fitness training to SEND students.

These students will also have the opportunity to take part in training sessions and competitions at Chelsea’s training ground and, if successful, may have the chance to take part in international competitions, travelling around the world to represent the college and the club.

From September 2019, in conjunction with the extensive work with Chelsea Football Club, Alton College will be delivering sports pathways, bespoke progression routes for students in years 10/11 through college and beyond. The first three of these sports pathways are sports excellence, sports and STEM, and business and marketing in sport.

John Dutton, development officer for Chelsea Foundation Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset, said: “Chelsea Foundation is both excited and delighted to be working in association with Alton College, for what the charity arm of the club hopes will be a long and successful association that will benefit not only the students enrolled on to the college football academy programme but also those who are enrolled on other courses such as STEM, business and media subjects.”

In preparation for the college academy beginning in 2019/20, Chelsea Foundation will work with local schools, developing feeder academies where 14 to 16 year-old pupils can train on a weekly basis, with the prospect of a trial for the Alton College Football Academy on leaving school.

To join the college academy, students will have the opportunity to try out for the programme which they will undertake alongside their full-time courses.

Two days a week, students will attend a-one-and-a-half hour training session delivered by a Chelsea FC UEFA B-licenced Chelsea Foundation coach, with match day on Wednesdays, which will see students playing in the Hampshire FA’s Colleges League. Throughout the academic year they will also visit the Chelsea training ground, attend workshops and visit Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea Foundation will look to create a career pathway for students at Alton College, through studying at the college and taking advantage of volunteering and employment opportunities with the club to reach their full potential.

Jon Myers, head of centre at Alton College said of the initiative: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Chelsea Foundation, providing an exclusive football academy and exciting new pathways for students both at college and in the local area.

"To be working alongside a global enterprise such as Chelsea Foundation is a fantastic opportunity for the college and the pathways that will be available to our students through the collaboration are unique. We look forward to seeing the partnership blossom and are really excited for the future of the initiative.”

To find out more, visit altoncollege.ac.uk/chelseafc.