Football and Education Post-16 Academies
The Post-16 Academy is aimed at boys and girls aged 16-19 who are interested in combining school work with the life of a professional footballer.
The Football Academy is a two-year, full-time education and football development programme, delivered in partnership with Professional and Non-League Football Clubs.
Open to keen footballers, the Academy programme is a must for any football enthusiast.
A playing assessment is held to determine the football level for prospective students. Both the football and educational element of the academy are fully funded, with a subsidised cost for purchasing training kit.
The programme offers those with aspirations of playing at higher levels, links to clubs at all levels of the football pyramid and provides Post-16 education in a range of subject areas, making the Post-16 Academy a truly educational football package.
Our locations:
CAFC Training Ground (New Eltham):
The NCFE-based education programme is delivered by specialist SCL tutors with CACT UEFA qualified coaches, delivering all aspects of the football training and match day programme.
All training and matches will take place at CACT, with education taking place in one of two CACT classrooms onsite. All CACT coaches are UEFA qualified and have up-to-date First Aid training, safeguarding, and DBS. Players involved in the CACT F&E Academy will play in the National Youth Football League.
The Football and Education academy is delivered on the CACT site next to the CAFC Training Ground. With first class football facilities available and two fully equipped classrooms, all players enjoy the elite environment provided.
Cleeve Park School (Sidcup):
The Cleeve Park School & Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) Post 16 Football and Education Academy is aimed at all students aged 16-19 years who are interested in combining their education with the life of a professional footballer. CACT and Cleeve Park School offer the option of studying a T Level in Sport or 3 A Levels while playing in an academy environment after school in a competitive league.
Students have the choice of picking a pathway that suits their future aims and aspirations, be that an academic pathway with A Levels or a Level 3 qualification in Sport & Physical Activity (equivalent to 3 A Levels) both of which can provide routes into professional and semi-professional football, as well as educational opportunities such as university, American sports scholarships, employment or apprenticeships.
Kent (Ashford):
The NCFE Level 2 & Level 3 in Sports is an Education and Football programme delivered by specialist SCL tutors with Charlton Athletic Community Trust UEFA qualified coaches, providing all aspects of the football training and match day programme. The programme is based in Ashford to offer players from all over Kent the opportunity to train and develop with Charlton coaches.
The programme will be based at Kennington Football Club, The Fortress, Ball Lane, Ashford, TN25 4EB. A SCEFL League based club with a spacious facility with many grass and artificial pitches, classroom which provide a perfect environment for learners both on the pitch and in the classroom.
The Ashford Post-16 Academy will play in National League Conference Youth Alliance League.
The NCFE Level 2 & Level 3 in Sport is for students who are looking to gain the introductory skills required to start a career in sport. Students are able to re-engage in education and, where applicable, retake GCSE Maths and English whilst expanding their knowledge and experience on and off the pitch, giving them a range of different options an opportunities to further their career development.
For more information about our programmes, please email:
South East London Programme:
Michael Lawrence, Academy Manager on: Post16academy@cact.org.uk
Kent Programme:
Richard Styles, Kent Academy Manager on: richard.styles@cact.org.uk
Our Post 16 Academy open events for the 2025/2026 programme are:
01/11/24 (Trial) – Footscray Rugby Club – Boys: 15:00-17:00 & Girls 16:00-18:00
5/12/24 (Open Evening) – The Valley – Boys: 17:00-18:00 & 18:00-19:00 Girls: 19:00-20:00
11/12/24 (Open Day) – Footscray Rugby Club – Boys: 9:00-15:00
03/01/25 (Trial) – Footscray Rugby Club – 15:00-17:00 & Girls 16:00-18:00
13/02/25 (Open Evening) – The Valley – Boys: 17:00-18:00 & 18:00-19:00 Girls: 19:00-20:00
21/02/25(Trial) – Footscray Rugby Club – Boys: 15:00-17:00 & Girls: 16:00-18:00
27/03/25 (Open Evening) – The Valley – Boys: 17:00-18:00 & 18:00-19:00 Girls: 19:00-20:00
02/04/25 (Open Day) – Footscray Rugby Club – Boys: 9:00-15:00
11/04/25 (Trial) – Footscray Rugby Club – Boys: 15:00-17:00 & Girls: 16:00-18:00
30/05/25 (Trial) – Footscray Rugby Club – Boys: 15:00-17:00 & Girls: 16:00-18:00
Can't wait to join the Post-16 Academy? Register your interest at Post16academy@cact.org.uk to be signposted to one of our development centres
Programmes
Programmes
South East London Male Post-16 Football Academy
CACT Football & Education Academy - Male
Based at: Charlton Athletic Community Trust, CAFC Training Ground, Footscray Rugby Club Entrance Footscray Road, London, SE9 2EL
- SCL Education provider
- Fully-funded course
- Free training apparel
- NCFE Level 2
- UEFA Qualified coaches
- A-Level Option
- Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing & Personal Training
For any further information please email Michael Lawrence on Michael.Lawrence@cact.org.uk
Partners
CACT and Sporting Club Thamesmead are excited to announce a new partnership, providing pathways for students from our Education and Football programme into the U23s sides with potential onward progression into the Reserves (Kent Premier league) and first team (SCEFL division 1)
SCT have a proven reputation of promoting local young talent into the first team and we have already had two students make this step up during this season.
Click her for more info: Sporting Club Thamesmead FC
For more information about the programme, please email CACT's SE London Football Development Team and Michael Lawrence Academy Manager, at Post16academy@cact.org.uk
Kent Male Post-16 Programme
Based at: The Fortress (home of Kennington Football Club), Ball Lane, Ashford, TN25 4EB
- SCL Education provider
- Fully-funded course
- Free training apparel
- NCFE Level 2
- UEFA Qualified coaches
For more information, please contact Richard Styles at Richard.styles@cact.org.uk
Female Football & Education Academy
South East London Female Academy
Based at: Charlton Athletic Community Trust, CAFC Training Ground, Footscray Rugby Club Entrance Footscray Road, London, SE9 2EL
- SCL Education provider
- Fully-funded course
- Free training apparel
- NCFE Level 2
- UEFA Qualified coaches
- A-Level Option
For more information on the CACT Female Post 16 Football & Education programme, contact Lucy.bailey@cact.org.uk or Michael.ward@cact.org.uk
Kent Female Academy
Based at: Kennington Football Club, The Fortress, Ball Lane, Ashford, TN25 4EB
Education provider: SCL
Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and Charlton Athletic Women are pleased to announce the NEW Female Football and Education Academy in partnership with SCL Education. This full-time education programme will be delivered with SCL offering female students the NCFE Level 3 in Sport or the NCFE Level 2 in Sport. The football element will be delivered by CACT UEFA qualified coaches, delivering all aspects of the football training and match day programme.
The programme is based The Homelands Stadium, Ashford with all training and matches and education taking place here. All CACT coaches are UEFA qualified and have up-to-date First Aid training, safeguarding, and DBS. The Female Post 16 Academy will play EFL Football Alliance League.
Open to elite female football players in year 11 (under 16), through our partnership with Charlton Athletic Women we are hoping to develop an elite female U17/U18 squad to support their player pathway opportunities. The academy programme is a must for any football enthusiast. It is suggested that all interested players contact michael.ward@cact.org.uk to attend any upcoming trials.
This is a fully-funded course with players only having to make a small paying contribution for the training kit.
Male & Female Post-16 Sixth Form Football Academy (Cleeve Park)
Based at: Cleeve Park School, Bexley Ln, Sidcup, DA14 4JN
Education provider: The Cleeve Park School
Students have the choice of picking a pathway that suits their future aims and aspirations, be that an academic pathway with A Levels or a Level 3 qualification in Sport & Physical Activity (equivalent to 3 A Levels) both of which can provide routes into professional and semi-professional football, as well as educational opportunities such as university, American sports scholarships, employment or apprenticeships.
More information can be found on Cleeve Park School’s website: https://www.cleevepark-tkat.org/sixth-form/