Ackworth School Football Academy
In partnership with Paris Saint-Germain Academy England
Launching in September 2026, Ackworth School, in partnership with Paris Saint-Germain Academy England, is proud to offer an elite football development programme for boys and girls under the guidance of our Director of Football, John McDermott and Assistant Director of Football, Gary Childs, where players learn the techniques and philosophy of the Parisian club and have the chance to play the Paris Saint-Germain way!
With a four-year development pathway, open to students from Year 10 onwards, players combine elite football training with a tailored academic programme suited to their age and ability.
Pupils in Years 10 and 11 follow a core curriculum including GCSEs or a Pre-A Level course. In the Sixth Form, students choose between:
A-Levels for a traditional academic route or the BTEC Extended National Diploma in Sport – a vocational qualification equivalent to three A-Levels.
Places in the Academy are limited and preference given to students already enrolled at Ackworth School. Football Academy scholarships are available for those who meet the required standard.
Director of Football – John McDermott
John is a very experienced and successful football coach and professional footballer who most recently was Assistant Manager at National League North side Buxton. He is an UEFA Category A licence holder, the highest practical coaching qualification offered by the football association.
As a player, he was a right-back from 1987 to 2007, spending his entire 20-year playing career at Grimsby Town and holds the club’s all-time appearance record, having played 647 league games (754 games overall) for the Mariners. He is one of only 17 players in the history of English football to play more than 600 Football League matches for a single club.
In 2009 John was awarded the annual PFA Merit Award, in recognition of his record-breaking career at Grimsby Town, joining an elite group of footballers made up of the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Pele, Sir Alex Fergusson, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Emma Hayes and Sir Gareth Southgate.
Assistant Director of Football – Gary Childs
Gary has a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch and enjoyed a distinguished playing career with clubs including West Bromwich Albion — where he earned his England U21 caps — Walsall, Birmingham City, and Grimsby Town. Notably, his time at Walsall saw the club achieve its best-ever cup run, highlighting his contributions at the highest levels of the game.
Having worked with elite youth players for many years and with his extensive coaching expertise, Gary plays a key role in the development of our players in the Football Academy and creating footballing excellence.
The Programme
At PSG Academy Ackworth, our students benefit from unparalleled contact time each week with our school-based, UEFA Category A licensed Directors of Football. Through regular individual and group coaching sessions, competitive fixtures, supervised strength and conditioning training, and yoga, every player receives the tailored support they need to thrive.
Our programme blends Paris Saint-Germain’s world-class methodology with the nurturing environment of Ackworth School.
Sessions follow PSG’s renowned playing philosophy, focusing on technical mastery, ball control, dribbling, passing, shooting, aerial play, combined with tactical understanding and peak physical preparation.
Players enjoy:
• Elite coaching from UEFA Category A licensed staff trained in PSG’s style of play.
• Individual mentoring and progress reports with personalised recommendations.
• Competitive fixtures in the ISFA, ESFA, and County Cups, as well as our U19s taking on professional club academies—maximising exposure to scouts.
Beyond the pitch, we take a holistic approach to development. Our workshops on nutrition, stress management, and game analysis, alongside leadership and teamwork training, ensure our players grow as confident individuals as well as athletes. Students can also work towards FA coaching or refereeing qualifications, gain sports-related work experience, and even take part in exclusive international events such as the PSG Academy World Cup in Paris.
Strength and Conditioning Training
Our Academy has a lead Strength and Conditioning Coach whose role it is to ensure that all players develop their physical attributes to the maximum. Individual training programmes can be created to support players overall fitness.
Our purpose built fitness suite features a wide range of state-of-the-art cardio, resistance and functional equipment, as well as all the free weights you’d expect.
All academy players complete regular fitness testing across the season to monitor progression through several different tests.
Training Facilities
The home of the Academy is a brand-new state of the art 3G Astro turf pitch, built in 2022 for £1.3 million which is just ten minutes from Ackworth School. Both matches and training sessions are played here which give our players access to the best possible facilities. In addition, we have a newly refurbished gymnasium within the school ground with a huge selection of cardio and conditioning equipment as well as an indoor swimming pool.
Admission Requirements
Entry to the Ackworth School Football Academy will be through the School’s normal admissions process.
At Sixth Form level, pupils must take three A-Level subjects, or the BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport, and maintain a high level of academic performance in addition to involvement in the School’s co-curricular programme.
Football Academy pupils in years below the Sixth Form must take the required academic course appropriate to their age and ability, and involve themselves in the School’s co-curricular programme.
Football ability will be assessed either through in-person skills assessments or via video footage when a visit to Ackworth School is not possible prior to admission.
For more information please contact admissions@ackworthschool.com or call 01977 233621.
