School 'thriving' after link-up with PSG

A head teacher says a partnership with one of Europe's leading football clubs has inspired her pupils academically as well as in sport.

Lord Grey Academy in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes, teamed up with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) two years ago to create Lord Grey MK Football Academy.

It gives talented youngsters access to the French Ligue 1 club's latest training methods and techniques (billed as "the Parisian way") for 10 hours a week, while continuing to give them an academic education.

The school's principal, Samantha Satyanadhan, said she had been looking for something transformational in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Post-Covid, I could see young people weren't engaging in sport - they were staying inside gaming," she said.

"I received an email from PSG and thought it was spam, but then they chased me again a few weeks later saying they wanted to work with us.

"Football gives our children the chance to be the best version of themselves in football and in the academic results.

"Two years later we are here and thriving."

Matthew, 16, said the academy had offered him a chance to develop his skills.

"It's good to learn different cultures and I enjoy the football," he said.

"It's all about coaching outside school for me. That's what I want to do. I wouldn't have got the same opportunity anywhere else."

Shadrach, 18, is studying for his A Levels and said joining the academy had been a great experience.

"I'm buzzing," he said. "I love football and this is a great opportunity. I've learnt a lot and it's taught me how to communicate."

There are currently 37 players in the sixth form academy, and a girls' academy for Under 12s and Under 14s has just started with 19 players.

The extra coaching comes at no extra cost to children, as it is funded by PSG.

Twelve academies have been set up in schools across the UK by the French Champions League giant, which also runs holiday camps.

PSG sends technical directors every year and there are regular meetings with the team in Paris to try to ensure sessions delivered in the UK match the standards in France.

Students continue to study alongside their football training, which the school said ensured "they are well-prepared for life both on and off the pitch".

"Football academies tend to focus on talent-spotting, and careers in football," said Alex Harrop, director of PSG England.

"Ours are educationally based and about a career in sport and everyone can participate.

"Our session plans and methodology come from Paris. We focus on technical ability and game set-up, whereas traditionally in the UK training can be just in small groups or one-to-ones.

"We look for schools and colleges with like-minded attitudes. We want students giving back to the local community.

"For instance, some of these teenagers will go into coaching."

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