What if your next step after GCSEs could involve more than sitting in a classroom?

At Derby County Community Trust College, you can continue your education while playing competitive football, training three times a week and representing Derby County Community Trust.

Our Football and Education programme gives 16–18-year-olds the chance to continue their education while developing as a footballer. You’ll train three times a week, play competitive fixtures in the EFL CEFA League every Wednesday, travel to away games and learn from experienced coaches, giving you the opportunity to take your football seriously alongside your studies.

With seven male teams and one female team, there are opportunities for players of different abilities. Training is led by coaches ranging from UEFA B Licence to UEFA Pro Licence, giving students the chance to learn from experienced coaches and continue developing their game.

And it’s not just about the weekly routine. Throughout the year, students get opportunities to experience some of the places and occasions that make the programme different from a typical college course. 

Every student receives their own Derby County training kit and tracksuit, while squads play home fixtures at their study venue and travel to away games on the DCCT minibus. Each team also has the opportunity to play at Derby County’s Moor Farm Training Centre during the season, and the annual College Play on the Pitch event gives students the chance to play at Pride Park Stadium.

Students can also experience a signing-on event and stadium tour at Pride Park, tickets to at least one Derby County men’s and women’s first-team fixture, and the opportunity to visit Wembley Stadium hospitality should their team win the league or cup. 

For former student Oliver Cartledge, who completed the course this year, playing at Pride Park was one of the moments that stood out most from his two years on the programme. “Being the first stadium I played in, I was just a bit speechless,” he said. “I never expected two years ago that I’d get to play at Pride Park. It’s crazy.”

Football sits at the heart of the programme, but students are also working towards their future away from the pitch. Depending on the venue and entry requirements, courses include A Levels, Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1 sport qualifications, as well as construction and bricklaying. At selected venues, students can also resit their Maths and English GCSEs where needed. 

The programme works with education partners across Derbyshire, giving students access to different study options while remaining part of the DCCT College football programme.

For students who are interested in building a future in football or sport, the programme also provides the chance to learn from experienced coaches and gain a better understanding of where football could take them. Oliver, who wants to become a coach himself, has continued his studies on DCCT’s degree programme after completing his two years on Football and Education.

Reflecting on the impact of the programme, Oliver said: “Being around the environment where we have class coaches like we do, it gives you the opportunity to learn a lot from them and get guidance as well, which is going to help me in my career.”

The experience can also help students grow in confidence away from the pitch. During his two years on the programme, former student Harrison Harwood said he became “more confident and put myself up to challenges more.” He also felt his football had developed, adding: “As a player I believe I’ve developed a lot in my overall ability and I’ve also become better at speaking to people.”

Applications are now open for the September 2027 intake. Come along to our Open Evening on Monday 12th October, from 6–7pm at Pride Park Stadium, to find out more about the football offer, education options and what life is like at DCCT College.

Learn more about the programme and sign up for the Open Evening here.