A Coventry school is joining together with an expert partner to launch a brand new sports academy.

Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School is teaming up with the Strachan Football Foundation to launch the Cardinal Wiseman Sports Academy.

The post-16 Academy will offer students A-Level and BTEC qualifications in Sports Science and Management.

The course will combine academic studies with practical elements, with students being taught by accredited sports coaches and competing in weekly league games.

The football programme will be led by former Coventry City Academy Director George Mackie, of the Strachan Football Foundation, alongside Head of PE at Cardinal Wiseman and ex-professional football player Howard Forrinton.

Students will be taught the skills to progress to a career in the sports and leisure industry or go on to Higher Education.

The school, which is part of the Romero Catholic Academy, is set to launch the sports academy in September and trials for prospective students are to be held at the school on Tuesday, June 26 from 5.30pm to 7pm.

It will be making a number of improvements to its sports facilities, including new pitches, an improved gymnasium and swimming pool.

Principal Tom Leverage said: “This will be one of the biggest developments our sixth form has seen in recent years, and we are thrilled to be working with such a high-quality partner to deliver our new sports academy.

“We have an excellent track record of achieving strong A-Level results, as well as a 100 per cent pass rate in our Level 3 BTEC in sports studies, and we are keen to offer a broad curriculum at post-16 level that plays to the strengths of all of our students.

“We will initially be looking to recruit 20 boys for the football programme, but there is huge potential to expand this in the future.

“We will be looking at the level of interest from girls and plan to partner with more experts as we broaden the range of sports we can offer from 2019.”

Strachan Football Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Rugby, has become one of the most successful football education programmes in the UK and looks to develop young people both on and off the pitch.

George Mackie said: “We are looking forward to working with Cardinal Wiseman to help establish a constructive development pathway for the boys.

“We will help Cardinal Wiseman to put together an experience enabling them to be treated exactly the same as our own boys, working with them on the field and also promoting the educational benefits of the course.

“We will be acting in an advisory capacity on the coaching front, using our experience to enhance the Academy as it evolves for the benefit of the students.”

To book a place on the trials, email Howard Forinton

Photo caption: George Mackie, of Strachan Football Foundation; Howard Forinton, Head of PE at Cardinal Wiseman; Patrick Taggart, Romero Catholic Academy Business Director; Ryan Conneely, Head of Football Operations and Coach at the Strachan Football Foundation and Rhye Parry, PE and Wellbeing Co-ordinator at the Romero Catholic Academy.