Post-16 Football and Education Academies

CACT’s South East London Male and Female Post-16 Football Academies are both delivered at Charlton Athletic’s Training Ground in New Eltham (SE9 2EL). With first-class football facilities and two fully equipped classrooms in CACT’s area of the Training Ground, all players benefit from an elite football environment.

Key Information - South East London Male Post-16 Football Academy:

• NCFE-based education programme delivered by specialist SCL education tutors
• Fully-funded course
• A-Level option
• Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing & Personal Training
• Discounted training apparel
• UEFA qualified coaches who are DBS-checked and trained in first aid and safeguarding.
• Partnership with Sporting Club Thamesmead, who provide pathways for students from our Post-16 Academy into their U23s sides, with potential onward progression into their reserves team (Kent Premier league) and first-team (SCEFL Division 1).

For more information, please contact Michael Lawrence at Michael.Lawrence@cact.org.uk

Key Information - South East London Female Post-16 Football Academy:

• NCFE-based education programme delivered by specialist SCL education tutors
• Fully-funded course
• Discounted training apparel
• UEFA qualified coaches who are DBS-checked and trained in first aid and safeguarding.

For more information, please contact Lucy Bailey and Michael Ward at Lucy.bailey@cact.org.uk & Michael.ward@cact.org.uk

CACT’s Kent Male Post-16 Football Academy will be based at the Alcaline Stadium in Folkestone (CT19 5JU) from September 2025. The stadium is home to Folkestone Invicta Football Club, who are a step-three non-league side. It offers an elite football environment, with a newly installed 3G facility and newly renovated education spaces.

Key Information -  Kent Male Post-16 Football Academy

• NCFE-based education programme delivered by specialist SCL education tutors
• Fully-funded course
• A-Level option
• Discounted training apparel
• UEFA qualified coaches who are DBS-checked and trained in first aid and safeguarding.
• Competes in the National League Conference Youth Alliance League. 

To apply to the programme directly, please click here.

For more information, please contact Richard Styles at Richard.styles@cact.org.uk

Cleeve Park School (DA14 4JN) offers Sixth Form students access to a private study suite fully equipped with computers, silent study rooms and a canteen separate from the main school facilities.

Key Information -  Cleeve Park Post-16 Football Academy

• Students have the choice of picking an academic pathway that suits their future aims and aspirations
• Academic pathways include taking three A Levels, or a Level 3 qualification in Sport & Physical Activity (equivalent to 3 A Levels), both offering routes into professional and semi-professional football. Click here to find out more about entry requirements and subjects available. 
• Students are in school full-time (8:30am to 3:00pm)
• Football sessions will be from 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Matchdays are on Wednesday. 
• All courses support pathways into university, apprenticeships or scholarships.

Click here for further information

Applicants must be aged 16-18 at the start of the academic year in September and hold a British passport or have legal residency status in the UK.

The course starts in line with the academic year in September. However, a pre-season training programme commences in late June to prepare players physically and mentally for the season ahead.

Players should have a keen interest in football and sports, experience of playing in a team environment and commitment to learning and developing football skills whilst gaining a sports qualification.

There are three training sessions per week, totalling to around six hours training time per week.

Matches are played on Wednesdays. Selected players will play either at home or away, depending on where a fixture is scheduled to take place. For away games, players will travel locally or further afield by minibus or by public transport if the location is within a short radius of the home ground.

Training kit will be issued during pre-season once payment has been received.

The cost of the training kit is to be confirmed (TBC).

Yes. Match kit is supplied on game days and collected post-match, then cleaned in readiness for the next fixtures.

CACT Post-16 teams participate in a variety of competitive leagues, including regional professional club foundation leagues, semi-professional academy leagues and local college competitions. Players will be placed into either the Development or Performance squad, and this placement will determine the league in which they compete.

Squad placements will be finalised and communicated at the end of the summer training programme, just before the start of the new season.

Education at our male and female South-East London Post-16 Football and Education programme, and at our male Kent Post-16 Football and Education programme, is provided by SCL Education. SCL are a specialist Post-16 provider with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. They deliver high-quality education, inspired by sport. Their recent Ofsted inspection rated them as ‘Good' in all areas with two areas of outstanding: behaviours and attitudes and adult learning.

We currently offer three options:

• NCFE Level 2 Diploma in Sport
• NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity
• NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity + A-Level Psychology

Level 2 Diploma: Minimum of two GCSEs at grade 4 or above

Level 3 Diploma: Minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above

Level 3 + A-Level Psychology: Minimum of four GCSEs at grade 4, including at least a grade 5 in Maths, English and Science

Students will typically study 9.5 hours per week for their core course, with an additional one-hour tutorial. This is usually spread across three days. Students without a grade 4 in Maths or English will need to resit these GCSEs (lessons are allocated for Maths and English in addition to the core hours).

Yes. All students must complete 35 hours of work experience for each academic year they are enrolled.

Upon completing the NCFE Level 3 Diploma, students can pursue a variety of pathways, including:

• A Year 14 Personal Training qualification
• University education
• Apprenticeships
• USA Scholarships
• Full-time employment