Post-16 Options: What is our BTEC Academy?

It will soon be that time of year again when the new academic year starts and decisions will have to be made about your next step on the path of life. Post-16 options are varied and can take you down so many avenues, so what is our Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sport and what is it like learning at a football stadium away from the ‘normal’ educational setting?

In a nutshell our Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sport is equivalent to 3 A-Levels and encompasses modules from anatomy and physiology to sports leadership and coaching. The course has proven popular with cohort numbers growing year on year. If you have a passion for sport there is no doubt that this is the course for you. Whether you want to be a sports physiotherapist, a coach, a performance analyst or even if you’re not sure on a career yet, which it is more than ok to be, our BTEC will set you up with everything you need looking beyond the two year course. And that is the most important thing with our BTEC – we want you to feel prepared for whatever path you choose to go down next. We want to help you develop the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed, even if you’re not quite sure what that path is yet.

Here at The Foundation the learning style and setting is very different to that of sixth form or college. The aim is to bridge the gap between school learning and university learning, which means giving our students more responsibility and freedom to make their own choices. There is a strong mix of theory and practical sessions as we realise the importance of different learning styles for different content. You will also be studying at the LNER Stadium, home to Lincoln City FC, within a professional sports environment, which is slightly different to that of a normal school setting!

Naturally, there will be the opportunity to play competitive football. You will be representing the Lincoln City badge and playing home games at the LNER stadium on the state of the art 3G. Students will have the opportunity to be enrolled in two football leagues and one futsal league, playing against the likes of Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion. Six hours of football coaching will be incorporated into the timetable, whilst complimenting the education programme demands.

If football isn’t your thing this is ok too! The playing side is at your discretion and the course will still give you invaluable experience in sport focused roles, such as Primary School PE delivery and sports journalism.

There are so many options available to you looking beyond the BTEC and into your next phase of life, whether it be going into higher education or whether it be jumping into the world of work from the experience you have gained from the placements you have been on during your time with us at the Foundation. There is even the option to stay with us through higher education and do a degree with us!

If this hasn’t convinced you enough, maybe James one of our BTEC graduates can convince you!