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 Segun Oladele at segun.oladele@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

• Extensive A level offer – 3 A Level Pathway: Subjects include – Mathematics, Psychology, Politics, Philosophy And Ethics, Biology, Business, Art, History, Sociology, Chemistry, Product Design, English, PE, Geography, Economics. Applied courses in Criminology and Music
• Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Sport (equivalent to 3 A levels)
• GCSE resits in English/Maths
• Personalised learning programme
• Support for university and apprenticeship applications
• Careers Advice
• Work experience opportunities with Industries
• Apprenticeship workshop
• Optional certified courses – including Mental Health First Aid, Literacy Coordinator, First Aid Courses
• Extensive Enrichment program
• Full time pastoral support
• Personal Chromebook to use in lessons and at home
• New 4G pitch
• Use of strength & conditioning suite
• Training sessions 3 times a week with UEFA qualified coaches who are DBS-checked and trained in first aid and safeguarding

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.

For students wishing to take the Academic Pathway (A Level or Vocational) at Cleeve Park School students must be 16/17 (about to enter academic Year 12).

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.

Students wishing to study at Cleeve Park School must meet the prerequisite requirements listed here.

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.

Education at our male and female Post-16 Sixth Form Football Academy is provided by Cleeve Park School. Students follow either a full Academic Pathway or study for a Sports T-Level qualification alongside their football training sessions with CACT.

Our South East London Male & Female Post-16 Academy (New Eltham) and Kent Male Post-16 Academy (Folkestone Invicta) offer:

• 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

And our Male and Female Post-16 Sixth Form Football Academy at Cleeve Park School (Sidcup) offers:

• A comprehensive selection of A Level and Applied academic Level 3 qualifications or a vocational T-Level in Sport (equivalent of 3 A Levels) - see here for full details.

Our Level 2 and 3 NCFE courses require the following qualifications:

• 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

Our A Level Pathway at Cleeve Park School requires a minimum of Grade 5 in GCSE English and Maths plus subject specific grades listed here.

The T-Level in Sport (equivalent to 3 A Levels) requires a minimum of Grade 4 in GCSE English, Maths and Grade 5 in a sports related subject. 

NCFE 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. 

A Level/Applied/T Level Students at Cleeve park will study for approximately 15 hours per week in school.

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.

After 2 years and on completion of A Level, T Level or Level 3 Diplomas, students can pursue a variety of pathways, including:

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