A new sports careers programme led by Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and funded by the Kent and Medway Progression Federation (KMPF) is transforming how students approach their future in sports.
The Holmesdale School in Snodland, Kent, has successfully piloted the project for Year 12 students enrolled on the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sports Studies. It encourages students to consider where a degree in sports can take them after leaving school.
12 students took part in the programme, which ran over the summer term, with some having completed the original scheme in Year 10. The project combined classroom sessions, university visits, and real-world experience, to help students research different career pathways in sports: such as sports analysis, sports coaching, and sports therapy.
As part of the project, students visited three Kent and Medway universities – the University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University, and the University of Kent – each focusing on different aspects of sports careers.
The programme concluded with a formal interview day at The Valley, the historic football ground of Charlton Athletic. Students took part in both group and individual interviews conducted by CACT staff, simulating real-world recruitment scenarios. They received immediate feedback on their performance from industry professionals.
Matt Faithorn, Careers in Sport Officer at Charlton Athletic Community Trust, said, “This programme allows us to showcase the diverse career opportunities within professional football clubs, and is helping to bridge the gap between education and the sports industry. It’s inspiring to see the student’s enthusiasm and potential.”
Upon completing the programme, one student secured work at the football club’s summer camps and became a girls’ football team coach, aligning with her aspirations to become a PE teacher.
Scott Amos, Head of PE, Sport, and Health and Social Care at The Holmesdale School said the programme has had a transformative impact: “It’s been fantastic. The students, now in Year 13, are all considering university. A few have already started applying, and I think the project has been a big factor. It’s raised their aspirations. They are more aware of the opportunities available to them in the world of sports.”
Plans are underway to run the programme for current Year 12 students at Holmesdale, with hopes to make it a permanent fixture in the school’s careers calendar.
Gavin Delf, Kent and Medway Progression Federation Hub Manager highlighted the programme’s collaborative success: “By combining academic insights, practical experience, and industry exposure, we’re not just showing students possible career paths – we’re actively helping them take their first steps. The success of this programme is a testament to what can be achieved when education and industry come together with a shared vision.”
For more information about the Sports and Higher Education programme, contact kmpf@canterbury.ac.uk