Academy for Sport

If you have the passion and drive to compete in sport join our sport academies. Based in cutting edge facilities at Gateshead International Stadium, the academy programme is designed to allow you to perfect your sporting skills and techniques, and reach your fitness and performance goals, whilst gaining a valuable academic or vocational qualification.

Who can join?

You can join if you are aged 16-19 and studying any full time course at the College.

Our Academies

We have an unrivalled reputation for running successful academies in men's football and women's football, netball, athletics, rugby, basketball and golf.

If you excel in other sports, we'll give you individual support to improve your overall fitness and performance as part of the academy programme. We have worked with championship swimmers, power lifters, ice dancers and golfers.  

Academy advantages

As an Academy member you will get:

• 9 hours of coaching every week from highly trained, professional coaches who will take your individual talents to the max
• The opportunity to gain coaching qualifications, and other qualifications relevant to the industry including community sports leaders, assistant gym instructor and more
• To train and study using excellent facilities at Gateshead International Stadium used by both up and coming, and elite athletes
• Fitness, performance and conditioning programmes designed to suit your individual needs
• The chance to learn about nutrition, fitness and preventing injury with our sports scientists
• To compete in local, national and international leagues and competitions (designed to fit around your existing commitments to your own teams and clubs)
• Access to a professional physiotherapist who can provide treatment for sports injuries and train you to care for your body
• The best coaches, sports scientists and teaching staff in the region all focused on helping you achieve your goals
• Massively discounted gym membership at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Our facilities

• based at Gateshead International Stadium
• multi-million pound facility 
• shared with the English institute of Sport
• part of a small network of elite facilities meaning it is one of the best places in the country to train. 

Visit our world class facilities page for more information

Academy successes

Our Academy members are successful in sport and in the classroom.

70% of our students successfully apply to local and national Universities, and 96% of sports scientists go on to University to study a range of degrees including sport science, physiotherapy, sport development, coaching, nutrition and teaching. Some continue to study on the our Foundation Degree in Sport.

Our trophy cabinet is bursting with awards, medals and cups! We are the Women's ECFA Northern League winners, a title which we have held for 2 years running, and we have won the Men's ECFA League for 5 consecutive years - that's incredible!

We have 7 male footballers who have progressed into professional football and 10 students who have represented England Colleges. Our girls can boast to have represented the England National Football Team and Northern Ireland.

A number of students join scholarship programmes with American Universities.

Some students work in coaching, for local authorities, gyms and as personal trainers.

Our partners

We have close links with employers and work closely with the FA, local universities, Sports Coach UK, Skills Active and Tyne and Wear Sport to ensure we are up to date with the requirements of the coaching profession and needs of the industry.

Financial support

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme
A number of our members qualify for this scheme which could provide you with a bursary of up to £1000.

Army Bursary Scheme
If you are interested in joining the army and are on one of our level 2 courses you could be eligible for a bursary of up to £2000 on completion of the first phase of soldier training. Whilst at college you could earn £1000 of the bursary, £300 paid in January and £700 on completion of your course.

You can find out more about how we can help you finance your studies by visiting our support page.

How to find the Academy for Sport

Visit our How to find us page to find out more.

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about our great range of courses then visit our course finder - remember you can join our academies if you study on any full-time programme.

If you have any questions about our sports academies then please contact us.