Port Vale FC Academy takes very seriously its responsibility to provide support, advice and guidance to all the boys who have contracts with the Academy and also to boys who have apprenticeships. The Head of Education attends management meetings/multidisciplinary reviews and is present at both assessment nights and is available to discuss any concerns parents and their sons have with academic progress at school.

The Academy has details of all schools which the boys attend and the Head of Education contacts these to offer any support and discuss any concerns. This support is enhanced at the beginning of Year 11 with contact made with the school’s Head of Year and a discussion about the boy’s GCSE targets. An offer is also made to the boys in Year 11 for revision opportunities at the stadium’s Learning Centre or in the Academy classroom.

When appropriate and as required the Head of Education visits schools to discuss any concerns raised by the school or by parents. This may occur when a boy is not achieving targets set by the school or when poor behaviour is observed by the Head of Year and it is felt the Academy can make a positive difference.

During school holidays the Head of Education will participate/deliver workshops for boys in Years 4-7.

The Academy also provides a life skills workshop on Monday afternoons for boys who are able to attend AFTER school and the following topics are delivered;

 Careers Exploration.
 Diets(delivered by Academy Physio)
 Match analysis(delivered by Academy staff)
 Dangers of drinking excessive alcohol
 Relationships
 Good behaviour
 Revision techniques
 Options at 16 and 18
 Higher Horizons-HE courses
 Making It Pay-how to make the stadium a commercial success(club’s commercial manager)
 Looking after the pitch(Club grounds man)
 Equality/Kick It Out/Show Racism the Red Card
 Interview Skills/Applications
 Life of a professional footballer
 Being a manager(Club Manager)
 Sensible use of the media
 Literacy topic-sponsored by Staffordshire University-Match report.

Life Skills Programme for Apprentices

It is important that all apprentices attend a programme of life skills to supplement the work of the coaches and of the lecturers at the college. These topics help the boys to adjust to adult life and to make informed and sensible decisions during their time at the football club.

We expect the boys to attend all the following deliveries and to contribute to the following sessions;

 If U Care Share
 Playing Safely
 Social media
 Sporting Chance
 Jamie Edwards
 Tobi Alabi

(All boys will have been informed about the work of Kick It Out within the Academy phase)

The Academy has also formed a link with the local primary Academy and each season a class of Year 6 joins the boys in the Academy classroom to interview the Youth Team about their life within football. This gives our boys an opportunity to give something back within the school curriculum and to improve their communication skills. It also gives the Youth Team ideas about working with younger children either within the education sector or within a coaching career.

The Youth Team also attends education sessions run by LFE.