EDUCATION
OUR PARTNERS
We are a Virtual Learning UK (VLUK) campus who provide an outstanding education programme.
The education curriculum and qualifications are delivered by Virtual Learning UK, who provide and employ all teaching staff and work in partnership with Holbeach United Football & Education Academy.
V L U K
Established in 2008, VLUK provides a range of services to the education sector, from CPD and teacher training, through to full-time education programmes for young people.
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Virtual Learning UK are an approved government provider, educating over 1600 young people aged 16-24 each academic year at Levels 2-5.
As part of the Virtual Alliance Group, VLUK have an impressive track record of creating, developing and delivering education projects to the sector. VLUK's Senior team is made up of education professionals and consultants with vast experience of leadership in all aspects of delivering outstanding education programmes.
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Click here to learn more about VLUK.
WHY CHOOSE
HOLBEACH UNITED F.E.A?
Holbeach United Football & Education Academy brings together academic provision and quality UEFA standard football coaching. With a football curriculum operating alongside the academic curriculum learners benefit from a more active and rounded experience. Not only do you develop academically, but you will develop as an individual and also as a member of the team in order to develop life's key transferable skills - confidence - leadership - communication - team work - problem solving.
FACTS IN NUMBERS
100% PASS RATE
97.5% ATTENDANCE
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90% SCORED ABOVE THEIR TARGET GRADES
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100% STUDENT RETENTION
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6 DOUBLE DISTINCTIONS
8 DISTINCTIONS
6 MERITS
0 PASSES
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VLUK TEACHER OF THE YEAR
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VLUK TEACHER OF THE YEAR
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VLUK CAMPUS OF THE TERM
OUR
EDUCATION
The qualifications give learners specialist knowledge and technical skills, enabling entry to an Apprenticeship or to other employment and progression to related higher-education courses. These qualifications are for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning.
Additionally, the breadth of optional content in this qualification allows learners to widen their opportunities to progress to a number of different higher education courses.
All elements of the educational curriculum are delivered by VLUK employed teachers.
LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3
EDUCATION
WHAT WE STUDY
1) BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport
(Development, Coaching and Fitness)
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This is a vocational course which explores different areas of employment in the sports sector. It offers a solid foundation in the various aspects of sport, enabling you to develop the skills necessary for gaining employment in the sports sector or progressing into higher education.
COURSE CONTENT
The course consists of a number of units which explore a variety of different areas, including:
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Anatomy and physiology and physiology of fitness
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Sports coaching and assessing risks
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Analysing sports performance
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Fitness testing and training programming
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Injuries in sport
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Sports psychology
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Sports nutrition
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Sports business
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Sports development and current issues in sport
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​The course is delivered in a vocational manner, with assessments ranging from written reports, portfolios, and posters to verbal assessments, presentations, and practical observations.
PROGRESSION
OPPORTUNITIES
Upon successful completion of the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, you will have the equivalent of three A Levels, providing opportunities for progression into employment or onto a higher education course.
ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
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Five GCSEs at grade C or above.
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This does not have to including English and Maths.
EDUCATION
WHAT WE STUDY
2) BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Business Studies
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The BTEC Level 3 (RQF) Extended Certificate is equivalent to one A-Level. The programme aims to provide learners with an in-depth understanding of the operations and structures of businesses and also to equip learners with the skills required to succeed in employment, at university or apprenticeship. The course is assessed through one written examination and three internally assessed units which are broken down into manageable assignments. Alongside this will be an optional opportunity for industry placement.
COURSE CONTENT
The structure of the qualification allows a great deal of choice and flexibility. All learners take core units which introduce the fundamentals of business organisations as well as other units from more specialist areas. This can be studied alongside Sport (e.g., Diploma in Sport and Extended Certificate in Business over 2 years).
The course consists of a number of units which explore a variety of different areas. Learners will take 4 units in total, including 3 mandatory units and 1 optional unit:
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Mandatory Units:
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Exploring business
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Developing a marketing campaign
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Personal & Business finance (exam)
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Optional Units:
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Recruitment & selection
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Investigating customer service
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Creative product promotion
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Pitching for a new business
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Training & development
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Market research
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The course will be delivered through direct, synchronous teaching from industry specialist tutors - online 4 hours a week.Alongside this will be workshops and talks from specialist external specialists from industry.
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PROGRESSION
OPPORTUNITIES
Upon successful completion of the BTEC Level 3 Extended certificate, you will have the equivalent of one A Level (plus 2 A Level equivalents in Sports Coaching & Development, giving you a total of 3 A Levels), providing opportunities for progression into employment or onto a higher education course.
Learners could go on to careers including, but not limited to retail, project management,
personal assistant, office manager, estate agent, marketing, human resources. All either within sport, or outside of sport!
ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
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Five GCSEs at grade C or above.
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You MUST have a minimum of a grade 4 or above in English (Literature OR Language) and Maths.
THE ENVIRONMENT
OUR FACILITIES
It would have been easy to have taken the option to house the academic side of the programme in the clubhouse at Carters Park. Many academies do their lessons within bar areas at their respective facilities or senior clubs, but the Academy made the bold decision if they were going to do the Academy, then it would be done properly.
When we opened our doors for the first time back in September 2022, The Academy was held within the current Holbeach United Community Sports Academy building. This allowed us access to a huge classroom, a canteen, a common room (with pool, table tennis, and air hockey!) and locker rooms.
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As we have grown considerably, having 45 scholars on roll, we have been busy behind the scenes building our very own purpose built Academy Hub building. Within our own stand alone building we have 1 BTEC classroom which caters 30 learners at a time, a Performance Analysis suite, a squad room, a board room, a cold water therapy suite, a fully kitted and fitted Strength & Conditioning Centre, and lock spaces. Even with all of this at our disposal, we still have exclusive use of the CSA building and facilities during the college/university day.
EDUCATION
MATHS & ENGLISH
Holbeach United Football & Education Academy offers Maths and English to all of our full-time students who are still working towards their A*-C GCSE. There are two paths provided for our students: Functional Skills and GCSE re-sit.
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
Functional Skills is a comprehensive course that looks at the 'functional' side of Maths and English. It focuses on providing realistic contexts, scenarios and problems; specific tasks that are relevant to students; problem solving; and the applications of knowledge, skills and understanding for a purpose. Students will have the opportunity to gain an industry-recognised qualification. This qualification is aimed at students who have received a GCSE grade F or below, and it is our mission to use this qualification to help students move towards attaining a GCSE grade C.
G C S E
We also offers all students studying full-time provision the opportunity to re-take GCSE Maths and English, providing they have already achieved a D or E grade qualification or Level 2 Functional Skills. The benefit of re-sitting these subjects is to achieve a GCSE C grade, often preferred by universities and future employers.
All of our Maths and English tutors are specialist subject tutors.
THE NEXT STEP
PROGRESSION ROUTES
There are many progression routes available for Academy learners at the end of their BTEC L3 Extended Diploma. The decision was made when we were discussing the set up of the Academy, that it was important to give options to 18 year olds and not just discard them once they had done their BTEC. The whole vision of the Holbeach United Football & Education Academy is to give options and opportunities to 16-21 year olds.
These are some options open to our learners:
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The Open Sport University - Holbeach United FEA (powered by Northampton University & UCS). We offer a unique university experience where students enroll on either our 'Player' or our 'Education Only' pathway in one of our four graduate routes: PE/Sport Teaching, Personal Training/ Strength & Conditioning, Football Coaching, or our Performance Analysis. All of our University students leave with a BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching, plus nationally recognised qualifications in their chosen pathway/graduate route.
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Other UK Universities - on completion of the BTEC L3 National Extended Diploma enough UCAS points should have be earned to apply for University courses (Top grades = 168 UCAS points!).
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US Scholarship programmes - we have contacts at US universities and scholarship companies that have successfully taken many learners on scholarship programmes.​​
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Apprenticeships - VLUK have had hundreds of learners go on to the PESS framework and also the Sport's Development framework.
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Coaching and Teaching Careers - VLUK has a proven track record of learners who are now fully qualified BTEC tutors.