The Sport Academies

The BCS Sport Academies are a group of unique programmes which celebrate, nurture and enhance the sporting talents of our pupils who take ownership of their own learning and development.

High-level coaching from top level professionals across a number of sports is combined with their education, allowing for time for a life outside of school and training.

The inception of the Sports Academies began in 2008, when the school had little to no sporting provision and just over 100 pupils. The former Head of Sport had always been passionate about sport and coaching, and he challenged the then Headmaster to assist local sports teams with coaching.

From there the inspiration around the Sport Academies grew. Encouraged by the ‘sky’s the limit’ ethos, energy was channelled into developing the academies for both boys and girls by forming strong sporting partnerships (including AFC Bournemouth, Bath Rugby and West Hants Tennis Club), writing athlete development programmes, entering industry competitions and providing a positive space and experience for pupils in which to thrive in.

Today, the BCS Sports Academies provide continuous opportunities for growth and development through on and off field training, experiences and coaching methods. Becoming an Academy Athlete at BCS opens the door to a specialist sports programme encompassing sport specific coaching sessions, a whole academy development menu, discounted physiotherapy, training kit, Strength and Conditioning sessions and more. Partnering with elite level sports clubs also helps to strengthen the offering we can provide to our Academy Athletes.

Our large team of coaches are all passionate and successful sportspeople in every sense of the word. They model this to our Academy Athletes, encouraging them to work and strive for success, but also preparing them for every outcome and how to behave with integrity as ambassadors of BCS.

The Sports Academies now boast over 192 members across Swimming, Football, Netball, Rowing, Rugby and Tennis. Head of Sport Academies Dave Tomlinson is leading the academies into the next era, with more academies and exciting plans in the pipeline.

Being in an Academy provides access to all the Academies features. No matter on which Academy is joined, everyone will have the same core experience.

Key Features

  • Academy specific kit
  • Termly progress reports 
  • Transport to competitions 
  • Strength and Conditioning (S&C)
  • Annual nutritional/wellbeing talks
  • Performance workshops with Sport BU's High Performance Sports Manager covering areas including time management, nutrition, and injury prevention
  • Termly S&C testing in partnership with Bournemouth University
  • Breakfast when training before school 

Entrance Criteria

  • Trials are required to enter a chosen Academy
  • Technically proficient 
  • Good understanding 
  • A positive attitude and committed 
  • Physically prepared
  • Coachability
  • Already performing to a high/elite level

How to Join 

For more information about the Sport Academies, please contact the Head of Sports Academies, David Tomlinson.

 

Swimming AcademyFootball Academy

Netball Academy 

Rowing Academy

Rugby Academy

Tennis Academy 

Coaching Philosophy

Many of our pupils are being trained for elite success, but as a school our Sports Academies have been designed to ensure that Academy members maintain their sense of reality, of moral living, of sportsmanship and of the need to support their teammates.

BCS has a range of top coaches and support staff who have local, national and international experience in their chosen fields. The expertise that these experienced coaches and staff bring to the school has enabled our own sports and physical education department to excel, and the school teams are more successful than ever.