SGS College | Be Outstanding

Covid Update

On Tuesday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1 April.

Updated guidance advises:

  • Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and no longer have a high temperature.
  • Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can return to college when they no longer have a high temperature, and are well enough to attend.
  • Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice is 3 days.

For education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April:

  • Regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting, including in SEND, alternative provision and children’s social care settings. Therefore, we will no longer be able to order test kits .

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  Overview of Programme 


  Teams Available 


  The Programme 


  The Coaches 


  Previous Success / Alumni Success 






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Overview of Programme

      
Our SGS Women's Football Academy was one of the first academies to offer full-time football training combined with academic qualifications for girls in the UK, and has long been an established presence at SGS College.

	  
All candidates for the Women's Football Academy must be on a full-time course at SGS College. We offer academic opportunities for BTEC qualifications, A-levels, higher national diplomas and degree courses. Students between the ages of 16 and 21 are given the opportunity to combine academic study on the many courses available at SGS College with top-level coaching each week.

      
Our WSL Academy Squad competes in the FA WSL Academy League and the FA WSL Academy Cup and Plate competitions.

      
Our ECFA Squad competes annually in four competitions: the Category One League, which is organised by the English Colleges and the AOC, the English Colleges Premier Cup and the English Schools FA Cup, and finally the AOC Regional Tournament.

    

  



  

    

      
Teams Available

      
The Women's Football Academy is comprised of three playing squads. Our Women's Super League Academy squad is filled with an elite team made up of players preparing to take the next step as high-performance footballers hoping to earn a professional contract from Bristol City WFC. Our WSL Academy Squad competes in the FA WSL Academy League and the FA WSL Academy Cup and Plate competitions.

      
Our ECFA CAT 1 Squad competes within the Category One League, which is the highest level within the ECFA. These players are involved within a performance driven environment, competing with and against athletes striving to gain knowledge and experience, ready for the next level in their footballing careers.
 
      
Our squad will also compete in The English Colleges Premier Cup and The English Schools FA Cup, and finally The AOC Regional Tournament. Our ECFA squad have the opportunity to work with players from the WSLA squad, with potential opportunity progress into the WSLA squad, if selected.

      
Finally, our Development Squad will be comprised of players who are focused on development and enjoyment. These players will compete locally within friendlies, against other colleges and teams. This squad has a great opportunity to train and play without pressure, and focus on enjoyment, whilst developing a the love for the game. Similarly, there is always opportunity to progress into the ECFA CAT 1 team if selected.

    

  



  

    

      
The Programme

      
The Women's Football Academy have high expectations in terms of attitude, and we place a strong emphasis on work rate, professionalism, belief and bravery.

      
At SGS College, all our Academy women's teams train at top-level facilities ready for any weather conditions so players are also able to train and most importantly develop. These facilities include a 60 m x 40 m 3G indoor football pitch, two full-size 80 m x 60 m floodlit 3G football pitches, 12 3G artificial five-a-side football pitches, and finally our 4 pristine gameday grass pitches.

      
The Women's Football Academy also gets supervised gym sessions with personalised gym programmes from our strength and conditioning coaches in our two state-of-the-art gyms. Players are additionally supported with the best nutritional meals after games, alongside videoed performance analysis sessions and injury prevention advice from our team of on-site physios.

      
Our WSLA and EFCA CAT 1 team will have opportunity to train on these facilities three times a week for an hour and a half, an additional 1-2 gym sessions a week, with games on a Wednesday, with our WSLA Squad having possible weekend games.

      
Our College squads also have links to SGS Olveston united who have access to all our facilities here at SGS on evenings and weekends. This allows our athletes to play and train with SGS college during the week and play for SGS Olveston United on the weekend as their club. This adheres the players to keep coherent and consistent playing styles gaining as much time and experience with one another, ultimately developing player connection and team cohesion.

    

  





  

    

      
The Coaches

      
Our ECFA CAT 1 coach is Brodie Olive: Brodie was a former player for Bristol City WFC from the age of 7, progressing within the academy to Bristol City WFC U21's and SGS College EFCA Player within the CAT 1 League. Within her time at SGS Brodie won the WSLA Development League Cup in 2017 against Arsenal 5-0 at St.Georges Park, playing alongside the likes of Lauren Hemp, Aimee Palmer, Emily Syme and Flo Allen, who all went on to play for Bristol City WFC First Team. Brodie has also competed internationally for two countries, Malta and Northern Ireland. With Northern Ireland, Brodie was selected to play within the U19's Euros, playing against England, France and USA in 2016 at Windsor Park Football Stadium.

      
Whilst playing, Brodie earned herself a high-level undergraduate degree in Sports Coaching and Development within our HE provision here at SGS. Whilst on her undergraduate degree, Brodie secured herself an internship with Bristol City, becoming head coach on the Bristol City WFC RTC U10s within a season. Brodie continued her personal development further as a coach, by completing her Masters degree in Sports Coaching and Performance, followed by completing her FA Level 2 in Coaching Football. Currently, Brodie is also coaching Bristol City WFC RTC U14's squad.

      
Noticing her success as a coach, Brodie was selected by Nike as one of the top 10 young female coaches in the country. The Powerhouse Project, ran by Nike London, fabricated a programme linking with top professional coaches with the women's and men's game across the country. The programme gave access to professional facilities, games and talks, providing these top 10 young female coaches the opportunity and experience to develop vital skills to be a catalyst for change in the women's game.

      
Finally, Brodie has also worked as a BTEC Sport & Public services lecturer here at SGS College since 2019. Brodie is a true alumni to the college, the female football programme and Bristol City WFC.

    

  





  

    

      
Previous Success / Alumni Success

      
The competitions involved with our squads, afford our girls plenty of opportunities to play, and we have an excellent record. In 2019, our WSL Academy Squad reached the FA WSL Plate Final. In 2017, our Academy won the English Colleges FA Cup and were runners-up in the English Schools FA Cup. In 2016, we got to the ECFA National Play-Off Final.

      
Our Women's Football Academy was historically one of the first female college football teams to run alongside a professional club, and that helped to attract players from all over the UK to play for the Vixens.

      
Over the years, our Women's Football Academy has built up a superb relationship with Bristol City WFC, and our Academy plays an essential role in developing talent on the Bristol City WFC player pathway.

      
Most famously, former student Lauren Hemp made the jump from SGS College player to Bristol City WFC 1st Team Squad, before signing for Manchester City WFC. Lauren has just been called up to the England Senior international squad, only recently in 2022 winning the Euros.

      
Many of our former BTEC student, EFCA & WSLA player has lined out for the professional side, and presently Flo Allen, who has played for England at Under 17, Under 19 and Under 23 levels, is a now The General Manager for Norwich Women, whilst still fondly visiting Bristol City WFC after being a player here since she was 15.

      
Aimee Palmer is another former student, an England U19 international who signed a professional contract with Bristol WFC upon completing her time at the Women's Football Academy at SGS College, additionally to her A-Levels. She now Captains our First Team within the Women's Championship League.

      
Many other students have left SGS College to take up football scholarships in the USA upon completion of their studies, whilst others have continued to train during the week at the Academy by taking up degree courses at SGS College.

      
Trials for the Women's Football Academy are held during the school breaks during the academic calendar and throughout the summer.

    

  

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SGS Sport

Womens Football

The Womens Football Academy is now recruiting student athletes for the upcoming academic year.

Our Partners:

Overview of Programme

Our SGS Women's Football Academy was one of the first academies to offer full-time football training combined with academic qualifications for girls in the UK, and has long been an established presence at SGS College.

All candidates for the Women's Football Academy must be on a full-time course at SGS College. We offer academic opportunities for BTEC qualifications, A-levels, higher national diplomas and degree courses. Students between the ages of 16 and 21 are given the opportunity to combine academic study on the many courses available at SGS College with top-level coaching each week.

Our WSL Academy Squad competes in the FA WSL Academy League and the FA WSL Academy Cup and Plate competitions.

Our ECFA Squad competes annually in four competitions: the Category One League, which is organised by the English Colleges and the AOC, the English Colleges Premier Cup and the English Schools FA Cup, and finally the AOC Regional Tournament.

Teams Available

The Women's Football Academy is comprised of three playing squads. Our Women's Super League Academy squad is filled with an elite team made up of players preparing to take the next step as high-performance footballers hoping to earn a professional contract from Bristol City WFC. Our WSL Academy Squad competes in the FA WSL Academy League and the FA WSL Academy Cup and Plate competitions.

Our ECFA CAT 1 Squad competes within the Category One League, which is the highest level within the ECFA. These players are involved within a performance driven environment, competing with and against athletes striving to gain knowledge and experience, ready for the next level in their footballing careers.

Our squad will also compete in The English Colleges Premier Cup and The English Schools FA Cup, and finally The AOC Regional Tournament. Our ECFA squad have the opportunity to work with players from the WSLA squad, with potential opportunity progress into the WSLA squad, if selected.

Finally, our Development Squad will be comprised of players who are focused on development and enjoyment. These players will compete locally within friendlies, against other colleges and teams. This squad has a great opportunity to train and play without pressure, and focus on enjoyment, whilst developing a the love for the game. Similarly, there is always opportunity to progress into the ECFA CAT 1 team if selected.

The Programme

The Women's Football Academy have high expectations in terms of attitude, and we place a strong emphasis on work rate, professionalism, belief and bravery.

At SGS College, all our Academy women's teams train at top-level facilities ready for any weather conditions so players are also able to train and most importantly develop. These facilities include a 60 m x 40 m 3G indoor football pitch, two full-size 80 m x 60 m floodlit 3G football pitches, 12 3G artificial five-a-side football pitches, and finally our 4 pristine gameday grass pitches.

The Women's Football Academy also gets supervised gym sessions with personalised gym programmes from our strength and conditioning coaches in our two state-of-the-art gyms. Players are additionally supported with the best nutritional meals after games, alongside videoed performance analysis sessions and injury prevention advice from our team of on-site physios.

Our WSLA and EFCA CAT 1 team will have opportunity to train on these facilities three times a week for an hour and a half, an additional 1-2 gym sessions a week, with games on a Wednesday, with our WSLA Squad having possible weekend games.

Our College squads also have links to SGS Olveston united who have access to all our facilities here at SGS on evenings and weekends. This allows our athletes to play and train with SGS college during the week and play for SGS Olveston United on the weekend as their club. This adheres the players to keep coherent and consistent playing styles gaining as much time and experience with one another, ultimately developing player connection and team cohesion.

The Coaches

Our ECFA CAT 1 coach is Brodie Olive: Brodie was a former player for Bristol City WFC from the age of 7, progressing within the academy to Bristol City WFC U21's and SGS College EFCA Player within the CAT 1 League. Within her time at SGS Brodie won the WSLA Development League Cup in 2017 against Arsenal 5-0 at St.Georges Park, playing alongside the likes of Lauren Hemp, Aimee Palmer, Emily Syme and Flo Allen, who all went on to play for Bristol City WFC First Team. Brodie has also competed internationally for two countries, Malta and Northern Ireland. With Northern Ireland, Brodie was selected to play within the U19's Euros, playing against England, France and USA in 2016 at Windsor Park Football Stadium.

Whilst playing, Brodie earned herself a high-level undergraduate degree in Sports Coaching and Development within our HE provision here at SGS. Whilst on her undergraduate degree, Brodie secured herself an internship with Bristol City, becoming head coach on the Bristol City WFC RTC U10s within a season. Brodie continued her personal development further as a coach, by completing her Masters degree in Sports Coaching and Performance, followed by completing her FA Level 2 in Coaching Football. Currently, Brodie is also coaching Bristol City WFC RTC U14's squad.

Noticing her success as a coach, Brodie was selected by Nike as one of the top 10 young female coaches in the country. The Powerhouse Project, ran by Nike London, fabricated a programme linking with top professional coaches with the women's and men's game across the country. The programme gave access to professional facilities, games and talks, providing these top 10 young female coaches the opportunity and experience to develop vital skills to be a catalyst for change in the women's game.

Finally, Brodie has also worked as a BTEC Sport & Public services lecturer here at SGS College since 2019. Brodie is a true alumni to the college, the female football programme and Bristol City WFC.

Previous Success / Alumni Success

The competitions involved with our squads, afford our girls plenty of opportunities to play, and we have an excellent record. In 2019, our WSL Academy Squad reached the FA WSL Plate Final. In 2017, our Academy won the English Colleges FA Cup and were runners-up in the English Schools FA Cup. In 2016, we got to the ECFA National Play-Off Final.

Our Women's Football Academy was historically one of the first female college football teams to run alongside a professional club, and that helped to attract players from all over the UK to play for the Vixens.

Over the years, our Women's Football Academy has built up a superb relationship with Bristol City WFC, and our Academy plays an essential role in developing talent on the Bristol City WFC player pathway.

Most famously, former student Lauren Hemp made the jump from SGS College player to Bristol City WFC 1st Team Squad, before signing for Manchester City WFC. Lauren has just been called up to the England Senior international squad, only recently in 2022 winning the Euros.

Many of our former BTEC student, EFCA & WSLA player has lined out for the professional side, and presently Flo Allen, who has played for England at Under 17, Under 19 and Under 23 levels, is a now The General Manager for Norwich Women, whilst still fondly visiting Bristol City WFC after being a player here since she was 15.

Aimee Palmer is another former student, an England U19 international who signed a professional contract with Bristol WFC upon completing her time at the Women's Football Academy at SGS College, additionally to her A-Levels. She now Captains our First Team within the Women's Championship League.

Many other students have left SGS College to take up football scholarships in the USA upon completion of their studies, whilst others have continued to train during the week at the Academy by taking up degree courses at SGS College.

Trials for the Women's Football Academy are held during the school breaks during the academic calendar and throughout the summer.

How to Apply

If you are looking to join our College Academy on a full time Level 1-3 course on either a BTEC or A-Level program then please apply online for the course you want below.

Full-Time Application Form Applying Online Full-Time Courses

Degree Program and UCAS

If it is our degree program you are interested in then please click below to see the full list of courses we offer. Then for help with applying through UCAS please email Bev Awre ([email protected]).

University Courses

Meet Our Staff

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Operation Lead
View Bio

Choisze To

Operation Lead

-Former Hong Kong international player
-International coach and team manager
-National Championship Gold medal winning coach
-Provides expert insight into Chinese training and elite performance
-Master Degree in Sports Management and Bachelor Degree in Business Administration

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Connor Sidley-Adams

Connor Sidley-Adams

Learning Area Manager, Extra Curricular Programmes
View Bio

Connor Sidley-Adams

Learning Area Manager, Extra Curricular Programmes

Coming soon.

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Dr Craig Barden

Dr Craig Barden

Head of Strength, Conditioning and Sports Therapy
View Bio

Dr Craig Barden

Head of Strength, Conditioning and Sports Therapy

Craig has worked in the SGS injury clinic since 2010 when he graduated from the University of the West of England with a degree in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation. Craig is responsible the sports injury clinic where, alongside 4 other therapists, he ensures sports students are receiving a good level of care for their injuries ensuring they can return to activities as quickly and safely as possible. He also oversees the strength and conditioning provision, where 3 qualified coaches support the various academies to aid physical development and team performance. Outside of the academy, Craig works with the Bristol’s only professional basketball team, the Bristol Flyers, whilst lecturing at the University of Gloucestershire. He has also completed a PhD in injury prevention in youth rugby at the University of Bath, publishing in various peer-reviewed journals.

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Tom Riddell

Tom Riddell

Sports Rehabiliator
View Bio

Tom Riddell

Sports Rehabiliator

Tom has a degree in Sport Rehabilitation and is a BASRaT registered therapist. He works in private clinical practices as well as working with Nailsea & Tickenham FC. He has now joined the sports academy team supporting the student athletes in their injury management. Tom will primarily use tailored exercise programs, but also some manual therapy techniques, to help facilitate better movement, reduce pain and, help people return to their activity stronger than they were before. Outside of work, Tom plays two instruments with a band as well as keeping fit with his main sport of swimming.

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Will Crowfoot

Will Crowfoot

Strength and Conditioning Coach
View Bio

Will Crowfoot

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Will started working at the college in 2018 but he is also an ex-student attending the college from 2010-2012 where he studied a Level 3 BTEC in Sports performance and excellence and was a member of the American Football academy. After graduating from SGS, Will spent 6 months in Canada at a Prep school playing against some top high schools in America before coming back to study at Cardiff Metropolitan University where he graduated with a BCs (Hons) degree in Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage. Whilst completing his degree he also interned with the Cardiff Met performance sports teams during his third year and gained experience within multiple sports.

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Pip Dickin

Pip Dickin

Sports Therapist
View Bio

Pip Dickin

Sports Therapist

Pip started in the sports injury clinic at SGS in 2022 after graduating from the university of Worcester with a degree in Sports Therapy, where she gained skills in sports massage, injury assessment and rehabilitation and electrotherapy modalities. Pip is also qualified in RFU accredited Pre-hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) first aid.

Outside of the college, Pip also works for National League 2 rugby team Dings Crusaders and for private clinic Top to Toe Physiotherapy in their clinics across Bristol and Bath. Pip also has experience working in the BBL and alongside university sports teams.

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Daniel Newman

Daniel Newman

Strength and Conditioning Coach
View Bio

Daniel Newman

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Dan is an experienced strength and conditioning coach working with top level athletes and individuals at all fitness levels. Having been involved developing athlete’s physical qualities in an abundance of sports, Dan has previously worked within multiple Professional Sports Clubs, National Governing Bodies, and University and College sport teams. Holding MSc Strength and Conditioning, and BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science qualifications, he is also a BASES Supervised Sport and Exercise Scientist. Dan’s strong passion and experience in sport and exercise aspires to support the student athlete to reach their true potential and help develop the strength and conditioning programme at the College.

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Dominic Williams

Dominic Williams

Sports Rehabilitator
View Bio

Dominic Williams

Sports Rehabilitator

I graduated from UWE in 2022 with a degree in Sport Rehabilitation. Additional qualifications include the RFU-accredited Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) and myofascial cupping. Alongside SGS I currently work as the Lead Academy Sports Therapist for Chippenham Town FC, and as a Sports Therapist at Philgood Rehabilitation. Previous experience includes working with UWE Sport teams (Football, Rugby, and Lacrosse) and within the UWE Injury Clinic. As well as this I spent 6 months working for Southwest Pitch-Side Trauma Care, which involved first aid support for rugby teams around Bristol. Outside of the college, I play drums in a rock band and have competed in football and kickboxing.

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Max Cooper

Max Cooper

Strength and Conditioning Coach
View Bio

Max Cooper

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Max started working at the college in 2022. He completed his BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Strength and conditioning and is currently undertaking his MSc (Hons) in Spots Strength and Conditioning, from the university of Gloucestershire. Max has had experience with a multitude of different teams from Bristol Bears woman’s to Bristol City u21 woman’s yet his most recent position was with Severn Stars netball. Here he was head of the academy’s strength and conditioning programme, while also working extensively with the first team. Alongside his role within SGS he also works with the university of Gloucestershire carrying out strength and conditioning sessions for the university teams.

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