A new girls’ only football academy is launching in Epsom with a collaboration between Blenheim High School and The Chelsea Foundation.

From September, the new Sixth Form Football Academy will allow girls aged 16-18 to benefit from an academic-led post-16 education and the ability to gain A-level qualifications alongside professional football coaching.

With women’s football one of the fastest growing participation sports in England, the academy will give young women the opportunity to pursue their footballing dreams while getting a wider understanding of sport and exercise science.

Blenheim’s girls’ football teams have won numerous awards over the past three years including the Under-16 Surrey Cup; a team from the school also represented Chelsea at the Premier League Schools Cup.

Keith Harmes, foundation area development manager, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to collaborate with Blenheim High School to provide such a high-quality education with the opportunity to develop as footballers, under the guidance and coaching of Chelsea FC Foundation coaches.”

A raft of further opportunities also present themselves to the girls who are selected, with the Chelsea Foundation able to offer potential employment opportunities, direct links with St Mary’s University in Twickenham, and a variety of player pathways.

Tony Bodell, Headteacher at Blenheim High School said: “These are exciting times at Blenheim. Girls’ football at Blenheim has become increasingly popular and successful in recent years partly due to the expertise of the school’s PE department and partly due to increased exposure of women’s football through the media.”

Trials will be held on Tuesday March 15, from 4.30pm – 6.30pm, at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground and are open to girls aged 15-16 currently studying in Year 11.

Anyone interested should visit www.blenheim.surrey.sch.uk/football-academy for further details and to book a trial place.

An Open Event will be held on Monday, February 26, at Blenheim High School to provide potential students an opportunity to meet coaching staff and hear about the opportunities that such a unique path can offer.