Post 16 Football & Education Programme Autumn Half Term Report

Ipswich Town Foundation’s Head of Education and Employability Robert Peace has provided an update on how the Autumn term is progressing for our Post 16 Football & Education Programme.

The first half of the Autumn term for the Post 16 Football & Education programme has gone very well, with the high number of student enrolments we introduced an additional men’s team. Currently, we have five men’s teams and one women’s team (all U19’s provision). The start of the academic year saw the Sam Warnes promoted to Football & Education Officer, to assist me in the running of the programme and managing the A team with Jason Dozzell. Kayleigh Steed joined the team as Girls Football Development Co-ordinator and works alongside Andy Taylor running the women’s team. Sam Burman runs the B team with Charlie Lloyd as part of the link with Suffolk New College and Post 16 graduate Jacob Fairweather has become a member of the coaching team, running the D team.

Our programme offers three different education pathways; Suffolk New College who provide BTEC qualifications or alternatively Northgate Sixth Form and Clacton Coastal Academy who offer A levels. Suffolk New College and Northgate Sixth Form students combine to carry out their football provision and Clacton Coastal Academy run independently as their own site. We strive to provide as a professional football provision as possible, with players being placed in appropriate squads. The individual squads have their own training programmes, but all include a strength and conditioning programme utilising the new multi-purpose gym at Suffolk New College.

On the pitch football results have been very good. The men’s A team are unbeaten, and the B team currently sit second in the division at the time of writing this report. The women’s team have also started the season strong with three wins out of four league games. The A to C men’s teams play in the EFL Community & Education Football Alliance League, the men’s D team and Clacton Coastal Academy team play in the AOC ECFA League and the women play in the National Football Youth League.

Last month we announced Cotswold Gas Solutions as our sponsor for the post 16 programme, in return their logo is on the front of our shirts and displayed on marketing materials. I wish to thank Garry and all at Cotswold Gas Solutions for their support and kind gesture.

It has been a busy six weeks attending the majority of school next step events in the Ipswich and surrounding areas. This is important to provide current year 10 and 11 students the chance to see the exciting opportunities available to them within further education. Applications are now open for next year, if you wish to find out more information or apply for the 2024/25 academic year, please visit our website www.itfcfoundation.co.uk or contact me on 07738084223 / robert.peace@itfc.co.uk.

I would like to finish by thanking my staff for all their hard work over the last few months. They have helped establish an environment we want for all students to enjoy their football and reach their potential. I would also like to thank colleagues within Ipswich Town Foundation and Ipswich Town Football Club for their support and colleagues from our partner education providers who provide a very high level of education provision for their students.