Which British boarding schools are best for girls’ football?

Following the recent blog about football in general, the next question was which British boarding schools are best for girls’ football? We are pleased to present more than a few examples.

Ardingly College is a proud football school. Soon after the first girls joined 50 years ago the sport became popular with them and it has been one of the girls’ major sports for 20+ years. Girls at every level and in every year group play regularly – from the C teams through to the most talented footballers on the tailored Performance Pathway programme. In the Michaelmas Term, girls can choose football as their primary sport, training and competing alongside the boys’ football teams. During the Lent and Trinity Terms, the girls’ football programme includes two training sessions per week and regular Saturday fixtures. This means the top girls’ teams compete all year round with great success – recent achievements include the U16 girls winning the County Championships two years in a row, both the U15 and U18 girls competing in the National Finals in the ISFA Cup and, in the last three years, five girls have represented ISFA in national and county squads. But it’s not all about trophies! Next term, the Year 7-9 girls are going on a football tour to Jersey and the annual Girls’ House Football competition is always a highlight.

Bede’s offers a comprehensive, year-round Girls’ Football programme offering the opportunity to train up to three times weekly, with selected players benefitting from additional small group coaching as part of the Girls’ Football Academy. The Academy provides players with specialised coaching, fitness testing and individual development plans, supported by UEFA B and FA Youth Advanced coaches. The inclusive football programme features both performance and participation teams that take part in ISFA leagues, national tournaments (ESFA, ISFA) and County Cups, ensuring extensive match experience. There are other opportunities via the school’s partnership with Lewes Ladies FC (FA WSL 2), such as masterclasses, scouting opportunities and training from their coaches. Bede’s alumni have gone on to play for Chelsea, Chicago Stars, Brighton and Hove Albion, Lewes FC and England U17, while many other pupils have successfully secured football scholarships at universities in the USA – a testament to the programme’s strength in developing both elite talent and a lifelong love of the game.

It is an exciting time to be a part of Bradfield College‘s Girls’ Football programme. This year the 1st XI demonstrated the significant progress that has been achieved in recent years by beating Millfield to reach the quarter finals of the U18 Girls’ ISFA Cup for the first time. The team was unlucky to miss out on a place in the semis, losing to current holders Mount Kelly. Bradfield College takes great pride in providing girls with opportunities to excel in football, offering a comprehensive junior and senior pathway. Sarah Thompson, Teacher in charge of Football, is delighted that several students have been selected for ISFA representative squads this season saying this is giving the girls “a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talents at an even higher level of competition.” Bradfield is also actively forging pathways into club football with girls thriving in external settings too, such as Swindon Town, Reading FC and Maidenhead United.

Girls’ football has become one of the fastest-growing sports at Lancing College, with significant progress over the past four years in both participation and excellence. The College now has multiple teams across Junior and Senior age groups. The 1st XI and U15 teams compete in the ISFA National Cup and ISFA National Trophy, as well as participating in block fixtures against other schools and colleges across the South of England. The College offers a term dedicated to football, with teams training up to three times a week, and students can also take part in training throughout the year within the Co-Curricular programme. Specialist UEFA A and B licensed coaches lead the sessions. A standout player is Nelly, who joined the school in September 2024 after gaining a two-year scholarship with Brighton and Hove Albion Women’s U19s. She has also represented Wales internationally and captained the Welsh U18s in a Euro qualification match against France. Nelly balances her studies at Lancing with full-time training at the nearby American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.

Millfield Football is established as offering academy-level development for male and female players, with programmes, staff and world-class facilities providing students with every opportunity to fulfil their potential. The girls’ football programme is structured into competition, development and recreation. In competition, there is one Senior Girls’ squad and three Junior Girls’ squads (U16s, U15s and U14s), all playing in national and regional/county events. The senior first team have a partnership with local club Street FC to provide an opportunity to play in the FA Youth Cup, the country’s premier youth football competition. Teams regularly play other academies as part of the development experience and the school hosts festivals with teams like Oxford United, Bristol City and Swansea, previously having also hosted Arsenal and Chelsea. Development and recreation groups have sessions three days a week, while the competition groups have six – contact hours equivalent to academy football, with on-grass technical and tactical development, plus off-field education gradually introduced from Year 10. This off-field support includes practice in athletic development, nutrition and hydration, mental skills and analysis. As well as the structured and organised football, there are unlimited opportunities for informal play, such as weekly house futsal competitions and the annual house football tournament. Students have gone on to sign professional contracts to play football and study at universities all around the world.

In association with Chelsea FC, Mount Kelly’s Girls’ Performance Football Programme offers an exceptional opportunity for players to excel both academically and athletically. This unique collaboration allows pupils to pursue their A Levels while receiving top-tier football coaching, ensuring a balanced development in education and sport – excelling in the classroom and on the pitch. Extensive weekly training is overseen by fully qualified staff and coaches and includes competitive fixtures. Players also benefit from enrichment opportunities such as training visits from Chelsea FC, coaching sessions and tournaments. The success of the programme is clear. In April 2024, the team won the ISFA U18 Girls’ National Cup, beating the reigning champions 3-0. The school’s commitment to fostering talent is further proven by the individual successes of its players. Several have been selected for national teams, with five players joining the 24/25 ISFA U18 squad. The development squad hosts girls from Year 8 onwards, allowing them the opportunity to train within a similar schedule, to access the sport specific strength and conditioning coach, onsite gym and physiotherapy provision. As the future of football at the school, it is proud to provide these players with a clear pathway to success. With a focus on academic excellence and athletic strength, Mount Kelly provides a nurturing environment where young female footballers can thrive and achieve their full potential.