QE has raised its game in meeting the demand for girls’ football, with a separate Performance Sport Pathway and scholarship opportunities
Supported by both fantastic results by the Lionesses and an ambitious growth strategy by the FA, it is no surprise that women’s football was the fastest-growing UK sport in 2023, according to The Guardian. Since that 2022 Euro win, QE (Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate), a through day and boarding school near York, has seen a huge increase in the demand for girls’ football. This led on to a decision to separate boys’ and girls’ football Performance Sport Pathway (PSP) to provide the girls’ team with their own dedicated coach who could fully get to know them as players, individuals and team members.
As one Year 10 striker, Freya says:“We pushed for PSP Girls Football and encouraged our friends to join so we could form a team but after the Euros, we suddenly had four teams; U13, U14, U15, U16”.
“I like being part of a non-main sports team,” says U16 right-winger Megan – who also plays for local team Clifford FC. “Having our own coach has made such a difference because we study game scenarios like putting the ball through more defenders and reacting to losing the ball. He is great at reading our game and each of our abilities to help us find the right position and to develop. We had skill before but not that much knowledge on how to apply it. Our team plays a cleaner game now.”
The PSP offers girls in Years 7-13 the choice to train weekly both within the PE curriculum lessons in the day and as a team after school. Each student benefits from an Individual Development Plan comprising coaching, nutrition, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, sports massage, and the latest thinking in tactical, technical, physical, and mental training. The programme is designed to support competing at a higher level, while also emphasising elements such as responsibility, resilience, teamwork and leadership skills. It runs alongside a comprehensive extracurricular sport, activity, and fitness programme and includes external talks and sessions from scouts, coaches and other industry insiders.
“The reaction to the Girls’ PSP has been fantastic. Individually and collectively, the team has really developed through the amount of training and fixtures now on offer,” says Girls’ Football Coach, Sam Westhead. “The participation rates continue to grow, and we have entered multiple cup competitions across different age groups where we have seen some really pleasing performances and results.”
“Girls’ football continues to build momentum at QE, with lots of students taking advantage of curriculum lessons, activities and our PSP,” adds Lead Football Coach Paul Bolland. “Progress made has enabled us to play competitive fixtures in several national and local competitions this year, and I am excited to continue developing girls’ football at QE.”
The PSP takes place at QE’s dedicated campus Sports Village. Facilities there include a 25-metre swimming pool, triple court sports hall, gym, and specialist studios. Outside, there is a four-lane synthetic cushioned running track and some 30 acres of professional grass and 3G artificial pitches. These are already used in the summer holidays by Premier League U18 teams, further inspiration for the budding female footballers of QE.
And, as further incentive for talented girls, from September 2024 the school will be welcoming applications for Girls’ Football Scholarships. These will be open to girls from across the UK who currently play football at county level or equivalent. Girls can apply for scholarships for September 2025 entry into Year 7, Year 10 or Year 12. The new scholarship pathway will join existing scholarship options that include academic, drama and music scholarships as well as sport scholarships in girls’ netball, boys’ football, boys’ basketball and cricket. All scholarships at QE are based on individual talent and can be topped up with means-tested bursaries.
To find out more about QE sports scholarships, admissions and forthcoming open days, visit qe.org
Further reading: Raising the game at St Dunstan’s College
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