Partnering with Harrogate Town Association Football Club

Ackworth School is delighted to announce a new partnership with English Football ea e wo tea a o ate own to deliver our Elite Football Academy from September 2023.

Students enrolling in the acade y will benefit fro high levels of contact time per week with our school-based UEFA licence ualified Director of ootball. This will co prise of regular individual and group skills coaching sessions, regular football matches for both the Academy (and for the school when possible), and supervised strength and conditioning training.

In addition to the Academy’s home being at a brand-new 3G pitch ten minutes from the school, students will have access to five full si ed pitches, a ulti use ga es pitch and an indoor training area. Students enrolled in the football academy can also take full advantage of the heated indoor swi ing pool and our purpose built fitness suite.

Head, Anton Maree said: “I am struck by the professionalism demonstrated at every level by Harrogate Town Association ootball lub and their staff. The benefit of being able to tap into that professionalism can only be an advantage to our school and our students. I look forward to a lengthy association with HTAFC and am delighted with the opportunity that it brings to our school and to all footballers within our local community.”

Simon Weaver, Harrogate Town AFC Manager said: “I am delighted that our football club has entered into partnership with Ackworth School. I am immensely proud of the association with my former school. Anton Maree is a great leader and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my meetings with him. We are passionate about developing student athletes at the school. The school has strong values and so do we as a football club and that is why we have faith in each other to produce a successful joint venture that gives pupils every opportunity to develop, enjoy and succeed.”

Many players will choose to join the Academy alongside their Sixth Form studies. Two study routes are available: traditional A-Levels, or the BTEC Extended National Diploma in Sport (equivalent to three A-Levels) for those wanting a more vocational education. Those pupils joining the Academy in years below the Sixth Form must take the required academic course appropriate to their age and ability and involve themselves in the school’s co-curricular programme.

For more information about joining Ackworth School and the Football Academy, please visit www.ackworthschool.com/ sports/football-academy/ or contact us on admissions@ackworthschool.com

Darcie (Year 6) started playing netball in ear after she saw a poster entioning training at Wakefield Wildcats Junior etball Club. She plays centre and wing attack for the U12s. Darcie’s Year 6 team, ‘Wildcats 2’ are currently top of their league and undefeated. This year she was selected to be put forward to trial for the West Yorkshire County development squad and was fortunate enough to earn herself a place in the U12s at only 10 years old. In two years, she has developed a huge passion for the sport and dedicates herself to training four times a week. One day, she dreams of playing for England.

When we think about sustainability, some will consider small changes we can do day-today which will make the biggest impact. These changes are often easy to spot and can be recommended to others. Over the past six onths, Ackworth School’s works staff have been working hard behind the scenes to make Ackworth School much more sustainable for years to co e. We have been replacing our 0 year old boilers with three brand new ones, including replacing and installing hundreds of metres of new piping. Having to fully drain the system, this will now cover and heat a huge area of the school. This project has been happening alongside other works around the school and although it may not be the most glamorous of changes, this has been a vital development project. Thank you to Mick and our Back Lane team for their continuous hard work throughout the school.