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Loughborough College is closed from 5pm on Thursday 28th March and will reopen on Tuesday 2nd April 2024. If you are a student and require urgent help during this period, you do not need to be alone

Elite Sport at Loughborough College

Loughborough College is a national leader in sport and elite sport education programmes. In particular the College provides a variety of education programmes working with a range of partners, including:

  • 15 National Governing Bodies to deliver the Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme nationally
  • Education programmes delivered to scholars at Leicester City, Derby County, Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest football clubs
  • Bespoke education programmes provided to Motorsport UK, Huddersfield Giants Rugby League and the FCV International Football Academy
  • Elite sport/academy programmes, working with partners such as Loughborough University, Loughborough Lightning, Leicester Riders, England Handball, Volleyball England and The BEST Centre (Mallorca) (see academies section here)
  • Personalised BTEC programmes offered to high performance partners and learners across the country

Loughborough College students past and present brought home 23 medals, including five golds, during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. More than 50 alumni competed at the Games, securing four gold, nine silver, and nine bronze medals during the incredible festival of sport held between 28th July and 8th August 2022. The College contributed to the overall medal haul with 5 Gold, 9 Silver, and 9 Bronze.

ALUMNI

Rebecca McGowan (Taekwondo)
Lauren Williams (Taekwondo)
Sarah Stephenson (Taekwondo)
Katie Summerhayes (Freestyle Skiing)
Katie Boulter (Tennis)
Harriet Dart (Tennis)
Molly Renshaw (Swimming)
Siobhan Marie O'Connor (Swimming)
Fran Halsall (Swimming)
Lizzie Simmonds (Swimming)

Abbie Wood (Swimming)
Sophie Thornhill (Cycling)
Elise Christie (Short Track Skating)
Jon Eley (Short Track Skating)
Sophie Hahn (Athletics)
Hope Warner (Badminton)
Noah Dembele (Canoeing)
David Philipson (Tennis/Canoeing)
Georgia Hennessey (Cricket)

Jude Bellingham (Football team)
Tom Huddlestone (Football)
Ben Chilwell (Football)
Jordan Nobbs (Football)
Izzy Christiansen (Football)
Toni Duggan (Football)
Ross Wilson (Table Tennis)
Aaron McKibbin (Table Tennis)
Zoe Smith (Weightlifting)

who is it designed for?

Loughborough College offers a diverse range of elite sport education programmes to provide opportunities for performers who are on a dual career pathway.

Our aim is to provide elite performers with bespoke, personalised education programmes that support progression as a performer and development as an individual.

Elite performers who are on a dual career pathway can include those who:

  • Are on an approved National Governing Body (NGB) performance programme
  • Are required to balance education and training/competition commitments on an ongoing basis
  • Need additional flexibility to enable weekly training and education to be completed, usually due to a high volume of training required
  • Are frequently required to travel and be away from home, that impacts on being able to attend/access education

Learners are assessed on an individual basis to review the correct education programme to suit their needs, and these are reviewed on an ongoing basis to enable changes to be made when required.

olympic success
Olympic Rings

Loughborough College athletes competed
at the Tokyo Olympics and
Para-Olympic games in 2021

Medal39Athletes competed in Olympics and Paralympics
Para Olympics7Paralympic Medals at Tokyo 2021
Medal7Olympic Medals at Tokyo 2021
Medal2British Records Broken
commonwealth success

Loughborough Sport athletes
competed at the Birmingham
Commonwealth Games 2022

Stadium120Athletes
Competed
47Medals in
Total
Podium6thRanked in the
final medal table
Trophy14 Gold
17 Silver
16 Bronze
key benefits

Across the elite sport programmes there are a range of benefits that support elite sport performers and enable a unique and bespoke learning programme, these can include:

1
STUDY ANWHERE ANYTIME

A mix of online, small group and face to face learning options. The online learning option can allow portable study opportunities, enabling the performer to continue to study anywhere/anytime

2
BESPOKE STUDY DURATIONS

Bespoke study duration and periods, including providing year-round learning and allowing study breaks to fit around intensive training/competition periods

3
EXPERIENCED TUTORS

Working with tutors who have experience of working/competing in elite sport

4
DUAL CAREER PATHWAYS

Programmes developed with partners/employers to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required on a dual career pathway.

5
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Develop a range of employability skills and careers routes, both in and out of sport

6
SPECIALIST EXPERTS

Use a range of specialist experts and industry experienced staff, including NGB staff

7
ON-SITE ACCOMMODATION

Ofsted Outstanding graded on-site accommodation is available, including the Elite Athlete Performance Centre.

elite sport pathway

Loughborough College provides 3 main pathway models that enable learners to progress through the academic levels, starting from Level 2 up to Level 6:

  1. On site delivered programmes, that include access to elite academy programmes. These are offered at Further Education and Higher Education and so are a longer-term development programme. Click the following link to find out more about our Academy Programmes.
  2. Off site/remote learning pathway. This enables bespoke learning opportunities from 16-18yr old programmes through to degree level using a mix of online/blended learning models. These can be developed to wrap around elite training and competition programmes. Click the following link to find out more about our
    Elite Sport BTEC Programmes.
  3. Partner programmes. We work with a range of partners to develop programmes that meet the needs of the partners and performers. The college and the partner work together on the curriculum and delivery to aid the development of appropriate knowledge, skills and behaviours. Click the following link to find out more about our Diploma in Sporting Excellence.

During their programme of learning performers can change models at appropriate points, and therefore continue to ensure the best pathway is available for individual circumstances.

Student Registry
VIEW THE ELITE SPORT PATHWAY
ELITE SPORT PATHWAY

Designed for performers on a dual career pathway who need flexible and bespoke education options to support their progression in and out of sport..

FURTHER EDUCATIONHIGHER EDUCATIONKEY FEATURESDESIGNED FOR
OFF SITE / HOME BASEDL2 Sport
L3 Sport
Range of L4 HNC, L5 HND and L6 Degree Programmes in Sport, Exercise Therapy, Management and Leadership.
  • Individual
  • Online
  • Portable
  • Flexible
  • Blended
  • Full Time / Part Time
  • Year Round Study (L2/L3)
  • Study Breaks
Elite performers based anywhere in the country with high level training and competition programmes that impact on accessing conventional education.
ON SITEL2 Sport
L3 Sport
Other academic programmes (for example A Levels)
Range of L4 HNC, L5 HND and L6 Degree Programmes in Sport, Exercise Therapy, Management and Leadership.
  • Face to face
  • Bespoke timestables and study modules
  • Full time / Part time
  • Elite Athlete Welfare Support
  • Loughborough University validation (degree programmes)
  • Eligible for BUCS competitions (degree programmes)
  • Accommodation inc. Elite Athlete Performance Centre
  • May include an elite sports academy programme
Elite performers based in Loughborough with high level training and competition programmes that impact on accessing conventional education.
study models
MODELFULL TIME EDUCATIONBLENDED FULL TIME EDUCATIONFLEXIBLE/REMOTE LEARNING EDUCATIONOVERSEAS FULL TIME/PART TIME RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION AND COACHING
LOCATIONLOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE/PARTNERS LOCATIONSLOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGECAN BE BASED ANYWHEREBEST CENTRE, COLONIA SANT JORDI, MAJORCA
MAIN PROGRAMME
Level 2 OCR Technical in Sport
Pearson BTEC Level 3 in Sporting Excellence and Performance
Pearson BTEC Level 3 in Sports Coaching and Development
Maths and English GCSE or EquivalentYesYesYesYes
TimescaleApprox. 15hrs (3 -4 days per week)Approx. 6-12 hrs per weekVariesApprox. 17-16 hrs per week
Delivery typePredominantly classroom based taught programme - academic term timeMix of classroom based taught sessions and online learning to allow flexibility. May include year-round learning to allow reduced hours/greater flexibilityMix of live online taught sessions and online learning to allow flexibility. May include year-round learning to allow reduced hours/greater flexibility Classroom based taught programme
SuitabilityIndividuals based in Loughborough/at partners with regular training programmes and limited periods away for training and competition. Accommodation is available for onsite learners and there is flexibility with timetablesIndividuals based in Loughborough with high training and competition demands. Accommodation is available and there is flexibility with timetablesIndividuals based anywhere in UK. Small group/1:1 tuition and so flexibility on when lessons can take placeAthletes who want the benefit of the climate, facilities and coaching that the Best Centre provides
Progression routesLevel 2 progression routes are to Level 3 study, as per above

Level 3 progression routes included blended degree/Higher Education programmes, as per Elite Sport Dual Career Pathway
in partnership with
  • Loughborough Lightening Netball
  • Loughborough Lightening Rugby
  • ECFA logo
  • AOC logo
  • Leicestershire Cricket Logo
  • Loughborough Basketbal Logo
  • Leicester Riders Logo