Elite Sport · Football
Education built around the academy week
We partner with clubs and academies to deliver serious academic study around training, fixtures and rehab – from Year 7 to A level, one relationship covering every pathway.
1 in 4
A level grades achieved were an A or A* in summer 2026
- 30
- clubs across the Premier League and the EFL
- 100+
- academy players taught
Why we exist
Young players shouldn’t have to choose between school and football.
Every season, talented academy players are pulled between the training ground and the classroom, and both sides suffer for it. That’s the problem we’re here to solve.
Missing lessons. Falling behind. Always catching up.
Training, fixtures, tournaments and rehab pull players out of the classroom week after week. They come back to missed work and teachers who can’t slow the class down.
- - Absence marked against attendance, whatever the reason
- - No way to catch up a live lesson that’s already been taught
- - Grades slip, confidence follows
Inflexible schooling caps how far they can go.
Rigid timetables mean players can’t train when the coach says train, travel when the squad travels, or rest when their body needs it.
- - Morning sessions sacrificed for a 9am registration
- - Opportunities declined because term time can’t bend
- - Talented players forced to give up one side or the other
Our answer
A DfE-accredited, Ofsted-inspected school built to move with them, so they can commit fully to football and leave with the qualifications they deserve.
Partner with us
Ways we partner with clubs
Your club
Three routes, one partner
Direct Club Partnership
We work straight with your academy
- School release support - single or multi-subject
- Full-time curriculum
- A level and BTEC - group or one-to-one
- Functional Skills English and Maths
- Self-led packages your staff can use
Partner School Personalisation
Your club funds, a school hosts, MVA teaches
- Your club funds places; players stay on roll at your partner school
- Curriculum coordinated between MVA, the club and the partner school
- Shared oversight and communication with heads of education
A Level Programme
With League Football Education
- 1 or 2 A levels alongside BTEC
- Live online, around fixtures
- Fits the apprenticeship
Extra support when players need it
Flexibility
Built around the football week
Timetables built around training.
Teaching calendar aligned to academy key dates.
Flexible lesson formats, combining live delivery and the virtual learning platform.
Every lesson recorded and available on the VLP.
Delivery
Two ways we teach A level
Group model
Small online class of up to eight players at fixed weekly times.
- 3 hours of lessons a week
- Weekly 30-minute 1:1 tutorial
- Full access to the virtual learning platform
One-to-one model
A course built around one player, at times agreed with the teacher and movable when football changes.
- 2.5 hours of 1:1 lessons a week
- An almost unlimited range of subjects
On both models, the same teacher stays with a player throughout the course.
Reporting
Full visibility for your staff
Your education and player care staff see exactly how every player is doing, without chasing.
- Partner portal and dashboard: attendance, engagement, submissions and grades in real time
- Fortnightly progress reports from every teacher
- Exams handled: entries, access arrangements, local exam centres and results day support
- Safeguarding to the standards of a DfE-accredited, Ofsted-inspected school
Partner Dashboard
Preview
Without a doubt, being in full-time professional football, flexibility is the key.
Testimonials
From clubs and scholars
“Without a doubt, being in full-time professional football, flexibility is the key.”
“I can't think of any negatives whatsoever… the tuition, the lines of communication we receive, and the satisfaction from the boys and the parents.”
“If it wasn't for MVA being present, I probably wouldn't have gone into the scholarship in the first place.”
“I can do it here at the club, at home, around the corner at the gym.”
“It felt as if I had a mentor that both wanted me to do well in my A levels, but also my career.”
“My favourite thing was the support I received from my teacher and my classmates.”
Our players
Academy players learning with MVA
Teacher spotlight
The people behind the lessons
Qualified subject specialists who understand the demands of professional football, and stay with a player across both years.
“They are ambitious in two different worlds at once, and it is rewarding to help them see that strong academic progress can still be part of that journey.”
Steven Lockwood
A former professional tennis player and school leader, Steven knows first-hand what it takes to balance elite sport with academic ambition.
Clubs we work with
Enquire
Tell us about your organisation
Share a few details and we’ll come back with the right person, the right examples and a tailored next step - usually within one to two working days.
- 1We review your enquiry and match you to a Hybrid partnerships lead.
- 2A short call to understand your students, timetable and goals.
- 3We come back with an indicative model, examples and pricing.
Prefer to skip the form?
Book a call or email kate.meeks@minervavirtual.com.
Beyond football
Trusted by athletes across more than 10 sports
