Liverpool Football Club Academy

The school provides education for the best of the LFC Academy players aged 11 to 16. In addition, it provides Post 16 education for all of the U18s. In September 2018, the first of the Liverpool FC Ladies U18s arrived at Rainhill. By September 2019, the entire squad will be educated in the Sixth Form, as well as completing all their training on site.

Many of the Liverpool Academy players are also schoolboy internationals. We work closely with the FA staff from all the home nations to ensure that they do not fall behind in their education whilst on International Duty. In the past, we have enabled our students to sit GCSE qualifications abroad due to European Championships. We expect the best of them in our classrooms as their coaches do on their pitch.

Examinations

All our Liverpool FC students have always followed a full diet of GCSEs. They all take:

• English Language
  
• English Literature
• Mathematics
• Trilogy Science Biology, Chemistry and Physics – worth 2 GCSEs
• History or Geography, or a Language
• Plus 3 other GCSEs

Over many years, their examination results have been excellent. Post 16 Liverpool FC students can study A Levels or BTEC Level 3 courses or a combination of both according to ability and aptitude. Those needing to improve their GCSE English and Maths results do so.

Pastoral Care

The school provides excellent pastoral care for all of its students. A member of Rainhill staff is there to manage the pastoral and academic pressures of life as a Liverpool Academy Player here at Rainhill High. This link tutor is responsible for the communication between club, home and school – an integral part of supporting these young people to achieve in the classroom and on the pitch. If a scholarship opportunity isn’t offered by the club, we as a school support them regardless of this decision. This includes helping to create time to go to trials at other clubs. If a football career is not possible, the quality of GCSE, BTEC or A Level grades has helped many to progress to university in Britain or the United States. Liverpool FC has an excellent track record in providing on-going pastoral and careers help long after they have released a player.

Integration into school life

All Liverpool FC students are fully integrated into life at Rainhill.

They are in normal lessons virtually all the time. They have friends who are not footballers and are completely mixed in. We treat them no differently from any other student. This includes prizes and rewards for excellent school work, trips and visits; as well as punishments e.g. detentions if needed. For us, it is important that the Liverpool FC students have as normal a teenage life as possible.

Progression

We know the ambition of every Liverpool Academy player is to make a career playing for the 1st XI at Anfield. We know the chances of playing regularly at Anfield for the 1st Team are slim. We will back these students to follow their dream.

If this does not work out, we are there for the students regardless. This includes helping to create time to go to trials at other clubs. If a football career is not possible, the quality of GCSE, BTEC or A Level grades has helped many to progress to university in Britain or the United States. Liverpool FC has an excellent track record in providing on-going pastoral and careers help long after they have released a player.

Attendance

Any absence from school is decided and authorised by the Headteacher. Any work missed has to be completed on time to the same quality we would expect from every student.

Admissions

Admissions of Liverpool FC students are managed separately and in addition to the available places for local children. The number of places under normal admissions arrangements are not affected by this partnership. St Helens Council provides the administration for our admissions.