Private School in York Launches Girls’ Football Scholarships for September 2024
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, a private school in York, announces that girls can apply for football scholarships for September 2024. Girls who currently play at the county level can apply for girls' football scholarships for entry into Years 7, 10, or 12.
The September 2024 addition will join a scholarship programme that includes sport, academic, drama, and music scholarships. Other sport scholarships include girls' netball, boys' football, boys' basketball, and cricket.
Growing Demand for Football at Private School in York
Since the 2022 Euro win, QE has seen a huge increase in the demand for girls’ football. In 2023, the Sports Department separated the boys' and girls' football Performance Sport Pathway to provide the girls with a dedicated coach.
The coach took the time to fully get to know the players, both as individuals and team members. As Year 10 striker, Freya said,
“We pushed for a specific PSP for Girls Football. Then, we encouraged our friends to join so we could form a full team, but after the Euros, we suddenly had 4 teams: U13, U14, U15, U16!”
Freya, Year 10
Previously, female footballers across the campus trained alongside the boys in a combined Performance Sport Programme (PSP) in football. Alumni and former football scholar, Faith Martin, graduated from the PSP football programme in 2022. She continued onto an American scholarship at Iowa Lakes Community College before playing college women’s soccer at Life University in Georgia, USA.
Reflecting on her time at QE, she expressed,
"I felt rather anxious when I first moved from a small school to QE. However, I quickly discovered that many individuals around me shared my desire to improve as a player and earn their A Levels or BTECs. My favourite parts of the programme were my practical BTEC Sports classes, having access to the gym, training every day, and receiving personal fitness programmes from the staff.”
Faith Martin, Old Ethelburgian
Performance Sport Level of Coaching
The private school in York is pushing to be the top school for football. The hope is that the girls' scholarship will help the school win national competitions like the ISA National Cup. As with all sports scholars, the girls’ football 2025 recruits will be part of the Performance Sport Programme. The programme includes students participating in PE curriculum lessons and as a team after school.
Each PSP student benefits from an Individual Development Plan comprising coaching, nutrition, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, sports massage, and the latest tactical, technical, physical, and mental training. The programme allows for competing at a higher level and teaches responsibility, resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills. It runs alongside a vast extra-curricular sport, activity, and fitness programme, including external coaching sessions from scouts, coaches, and industry professionals.
Girls’ Football Coach, Sam Westhead, said,
“The girls' reaction to the PSP has been fantastic. Individually and collectively, the team have really developed through the amount of training and fixtures now on offer. The participation rates continue to grow! We have entered multiple cup competitions across different age groups and seen really pleasing performances and results. I look forward to helping the girls continue their excellent progress and welcoming our first cohort of girls’ football scholars.”
Sam Westhead
Lead Football Coach, Paul Bolland, commented,
“Girls’ football continues to build momentum at QE. Lots of students take advantage of curriculum lessons, activities, and our PSP. The continued growth has enabled us to play competitive fixtures in several national and local competitions this year. I am excited to continue developing girls’ football at QE.”
Paul Bolland
Amazing Facilities Available for Girls' Football Scholars
Students train at QE's dedicated Sports Village on campus. The facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, triple-court sports hall, gym, and specialist studios. Premier League U18 teams regularly use outdoor facilities, including over 30 acres of professional grass and 3G artificial pitches.
For more information about the Girls' Football PSP at QE, visit the scholarships, football, or Performance Sport Programme pages. Alternatively, you can book a private tour by contacting admissions.
