Merrist Wood College is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Aldershot Town Academy, launching full-time football and education programmes for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Merrist Wood College is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Aldershot Town Academy, launching full-time football and education programmes for the 2025-2026 academic year.
From September 2025, the collaboration will offer under-18s (both male and female) the chance to combine their passion for football with full-time education.
Students will study a Level 3 BTEC in Sport at the college alongside having professional coaching sessions delivered by Aldershot Town Academy staff, with competitive matches scheduled weekly.
The BTEC Level 3 Sport programme at Merrist Wood provides learners with a relevant education and training leading to employment within the sports industry and aims to give a learning experience combining theoretical course study with practical skills.
Empowering Success On and Off the Pitch
Paul Newman, Executive Director at Activate Learning said: “Activate Learning is delighted to be working with Aldershot Town Football Club on this groundbreaking partnership with Merrist Wood College and University Centre.
“Bringing together the best coaches and educators to create a programme grounded in our award-winning Learning Philosophy, we intend to enable young people to achieve their best both on the pitch and in the classroom.
“We will connect the positive benefits of physical activity and the impact this has on learning, to maximise the potential in our students and ensure they are ready for the next stages of their career.â€
Richard Anderson, Academy Manager for Aldershot Town, commented: “We have been working together with Activate Learning over the course of the last season to put the foundations in place to offer a full-time football and education programme.
“Merrist Wood College provides a professional environment with high-level education courses and allows the Academy to provide interested players the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects, whilst training and representing Aldershot Town Football Club.
“We want to ensure that every young person interested and connected to the Club can be catered for, and their future is supported every step of the way.â€
Supporting the Wider Community Through Education and Sport
Aldershot Town Chairman, Shahid Azeem, emphasised the club’s commitment to supporting young people: “As a Football Club, we have a responsibility to provide not only a pathway for talented players who could make football a career but also to the wider community.
“Only a very small percentage of those engaged in playing football will become professionals, so we have a wider social responsibility to make sure anyone connected with the Club, or interested in representing the Club, is given the opportunity to further their education, whilst being able to continue their enjoyment of playing football.â€
Opportunities for Current Year 11 Students
Come and meet our tutors to find out more about our BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport at our next
or contact Activate Learning on 0800 612 6008.