Sports Clubs and Academies

Bexhill 6th Form College is committed to developing the talents of all our young people.

In Sport, we achieve this through our Academies Programme. Our Academies Programme was set up in 2007 with the aim of providing opportunities to further the sporting talent of the young people who study with us. The College is a centre of sporting excellence that offers unrivalled opportunities for young people in Hastings, Eastbourne, Rother and the surrounding areas. Since their inception, the Academies have gone from strength to strength, with students supported to reach their full potential and many competing at the highest levels in their chosen sport.

The Programme Aims:

Be the first choice College for young people with high aspirations in sport providing unrivalled opportunities in Hastings, Eastbourne, Rother and the surrounding areas.
Deliver outstanding sporting provision for all students.
Prepare students for further and higher education and employment.
Attract and retain the most talented and committed staff.

Excellent Facilities

Academy students also benefit from our excellent on-site facilities at Bexhill College, including:

3G sports pitch
3 tennis courts
Large indoor sports hall
Fully-equipped gym
Dance studio
Grass training area

In addition, there is a swimming pool directly next-door to our campus and we have football pitches nearby.

Download Football Booklet

Developing Talents

The Bexhill College Sports Academy enables students to develop their sporting skills whilst attending College and gaining academic qualifications. Students in the Academies have the opportunity to represent the College in regional and national events through AoC Sport.

The programme is delivered by our team of successful and renowned coaching staff. Depending on your sport, timetabled sessions include:

Specialised coaching from experienced coaches
Video analysis
Strength and conditioning including regular fitness testing
Individual skill development
Regular one-to-one discussions with your coach where we will focus on your progress and development
Sports nutrition
Sports psychology
Team preparation for regular weekly fixtures
Guest speakers who have achieved excellence in their sport

Home fixtures are played in and around the Bexhill area, however away fixtures can be at venues throughout the South East and further afield, depending on progress in regional and national competitions.

Membership of a Sports Clubs and Academies are for one year and to extend this, you will need to perform at a high level throughout the year. Your previous commitment to attendance, punctuality and performance standards will be taken into account.

We recognise that our Sports Clubs and Academies programme attracts applicants from a wide area and we can assist with local host family arrangements if required. Host family fees are the responsibility of applicants. We are happy to offer further advice at any time.

Sports Academy Application Form

Outstanding Team Successes

Once again, 2018/2019 saw Bexhill College consolidate their position at local, regional and national levels, with our squads competing at the highest level for college sport in the country. Teams have performed at the highest level throughout the season and exceeded expectations on several occasions and many of our teams reached national finals, winning medals. Each individual and team are encouraged to work hard and reach their full potential; These achievements, which continue year on year, are indicative of the focus, talent and dedication of the Sports Academy students and the commitment of the coaches. 2018/2019’s performances meant that it was a successful season for the Academy, which is something all Academy members should take with them to the next stage of their sporting development.

Athletics

The Athletics team competed in Nationals for Cross Country and won a medal. Harmony Cooper won the Gold medal at Nationals for the AoC Women’s Cross Country in Nottingham, helping us to win Gold overall in the South East team. Further success includes, the Hastings Half Marathon where the Bexhill College team have finished as the 2nd Non-Affiliated Team. Also, recently we have had students competing in the Sussex Schools Senior Boys Championship in various events.

Badminton

In 2015, our students won AoC Badminton Regionals finals. The female doubles pair qualified for the Nationals in Bath where they won the Badminton Women’s Doubles Silver. This success continued in 2016 with our Academy squad reaching the last 16 of the National AoC cup competition and with the College mixed pair team finishing runners up in the South East Regional final. In 2018, students got through to semi-finals and this success led them to compete in Truro in the lead up to Nationals for AoC sport.

Basketball

The Basketball Academy currently competes in the AoC South East Region National Cup competition. In 2017, the men’s team reached the semi-final of the South East Regional final tournament, whilst the women’s team finished 3rd respectively in the competition. The Women’s Basketball team competed well in the regional cup and reached the semi-finals in the cup in 2019. Also, Academy students have completed the ‘Basketball Activators Award’ course, which will assist them with coaching in the future. A member of the Women’s Basketball team at Bexhill College won an award at the Sussex Sports Awards.

Cricket

The Cricket Academy has now won the AoC Indoor 24 Cricket Regional Champions on two occasions (2014 and 2015), representing the AoC South East Region at the National Indoor 24 Championships at Edgbaston. In 2016 and 2017, the Academy finished runners up; where the team were outstanding in the ‘round robin’ style competition defeating colleges from the South East region. Most recently in 2018, Cricket once again participated in the regional AoC National Cup.

Golf

Students are linked with coaching from Highwoods Golf Club. Students in the Golf Academy have competed all over the country, which has included competing in the AoC Open Golf Championships at the world-renowned St Andrews Golf Club, with one student placing net 2nd overall. In 2015, the students also entered the Southern Open Golf competition at Magnolia Park, Buckinghamshire and successfully competed to their handicap levels. One of our previous Academy students even qualified for the National Championships in Bath where he finished 14th overall out of 21.

Netball

The Academy competed against ten Sussex Sixth Form College teams throughout the season in 2015/16, having amazing success winning 9 and losing 1 game in their first season. This success enabled the squad to compete in the elite Sussex U19s Schools league finishing mid-table, respectively in their last two seasons. The Academy also entered the AoC Sport South East Regional competition in Chichester where they finished 3rd in their group. In 2019 the Netball team excelled at the Kent Colleges Sport Association Annual Tournament and achieved second place, winning the silver medal.

Rugby

The women’s team participated in friendly small-sided games and the College entered the girls into the AoC South East Regional trials, where one student was selected to represent the region at the Nationals in Nottingham. During the Men’s Rugby Academy’s 1st season the Bexhill College team won the Sussex Schools U19s C League and also reached the semi-finals of the Sussex Schools U19s Cup. Currently, in the B league the Academy also competed in the Sussex Schools U18s, 7s and 10s competition and regional events.

Swimming

In 2018, the men’s swim team qualified for the national finals at the Iconic London Aquatic Centre. In 2016 and 2017, the Academy entered the Sussex Schools Swimming U19s competition in Horsham; The senior boys’ team achieved 1st place in the medley relay with their time, placing them in the top 24 squads in the England National Schools Swimming Championships. Previous successes have included one of our Academy swimmers representing the South East in the 50m Freestyle and Back, achieving a Silver and Bronze in the National finals in Newcastle. In 2015, one of the Academy students won the 50m Freestyle Race and qualified for the National Championships in Bath, winning the Women’s Team Swim Gold.

Table Tennis

In 2017 and 2018, the College won the AoC South East Regional final and represented the area in the Nationals in Nottingham, where the South East region finished 1st overall in the National Championship. Our Table Tennis Academy has won many South East Regional Finals which have included female doubles, mixed doubles and men’s singles, with the female doubles team winning the Gold in National Championships 2016 in Newcastle and in 2015, the Silver medal in Bath. Most recently, in 2018 three students from Bexhill College represented the South East Region and achieved a Silver medal at the Nationals.

Tennis

Annually, the Tennis Academy enters the LTA AEGON men’s and mixed league. In 2016/17 the Tennis Academy mixed team won their area group and reached the last 16 nationally in the LTA AEGON Mixed Team Tennis Schools Senior Students Cup competition. Previous years have seen successes in the men’s team winning the AEGON Senior Students Team Tennis in Group 20, by qualifying through all three rounds of the group stages, coming out on top of their group to progress to the knockout stage, where they finished in the last 16 of the National Competition. Each year, the Tennis Academy students represent the College and compete at the AoC South East regional finals in singles, doubles and mixed tournaments.

Volleyball

In the Volleyball Academy’s first season, the women’s squad won the South East Regional Final and represented the South East at the National finals in Nottingham, where they achieved an outstanding fourth position nationally. The Women’s team reached the semi-finals in 2019 in the regional cup and only just missed out at Nationals. The Men’s Volleyball reached the quarter-finals in the regional cup in competition to make it to Nationals.

Football in association with Chelsea FC Foundation & partnered with Eastbourne Borough FC

The Football Academy Men’s first team competed in 2017/18 in the Sussex Schools U19 League finishing 3rd place, reaching the final and narrowly losing in the final of the competition. The College continues to maintain its status as the highest finishing league position college in East Sussex, whilst also entering the English Schools National Cup and the AoC South East Regional final. The Football Academy second team won the 2nd XI Sussex Schools U19s League East in 2017/18 and finished 2nd in 2019/20. Our Women’s Football Academy team achieved a fantastic semifinal place in the AoC South East Regional tournament and won a Sussex 6-a-side tournament in 2016. Also, in 2017/18 the squad competed in the Sussex Schools U19s league finishing 4th in the league with three students representing Sussex Schools and also attending a trial with Chelsea FC. We have recently formed a partnership with Eastbourne Borough FC which will see our Men’s first team play within the National Alliance league against other non-league teams and football foundations.

Applying to the Academy Programme

As a first step you should apply to study at Bexhill 6th Form College. Your application should state your chosen Sports Academy in the ‘Courses you are interested in studying’ section of the form. After your application is received by the college you will be sent an interview date and time. At the interview, we will discuss your academic and sporting goals and a programme of study will be tailored for your needs. The highly competitive selection process involves a trial and a reference from your PE teacher or current coach may be required. Trials are normally held in March, with final selection confirmed by the end of April. Although not a requirement, many of our Academy students do study one of our sports related qualifications. In our Prospectus you will find details of:

Physical Education A Level
Sport Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma
Sport Science Level 3 Extended Diploma
Sport (Outdoor Adventure) Level 3 Extended Diploma
Personal Training Level 3
Sports Massage Level 3
Sport Level 2 Extended Certificate
Sport (Outdoor Adventurous Activities) Level 2 First Diploma
Fitness Instructing Level 2

Sports qualifications are among the most popular and successful at Bexhill College. Our talented, experienced and committed staff use the latest teaching methods and technology to inspire students to successfully complete their qualification of choice. However, the flexibility of our timetabling means you can study any programme at the College and still be in an Academy.