Or do you want to gain the knowledge and practical experience for a career in sport, physical education or public services?
Our courses give you the opportunity to explore areas such as physical education, policing and public services. You will build the skills, confidence and understanding needed to progress to higher education or prepare for employment in these sectors.
Outstanding Facilities on Our Sports Courses
As part of your sports course, you will train in industry-standard facilities that support both practical and theoretical learning. These include:
● A fully equipped Sports Therapy room
● The Athletic Suite with resistance and cardiovascular equipment
● A Sports Hall
● A third generation “Rubber Crumb” synthetic grass football pitch
These facilities help you develop your performance, fitness and coaching skills in a professional environment.
Build Skills for Sport and Public Services
You will learn from tutors with strong links to the sport and public services sector, including policing and government services. Their experience helps you understand how these industries operate and what is expected in a professional setting.
You will develop leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills that support your progression into a career in sport, physical education or public services.
Enrich Your College Experience
You will also have opportunities to take part in trips and enrichment activities, including overseas visits. These experiences help you build confi dence, independence and a broader understanding of sport and public services.
A Level & Mix
Vocational & T Level
Apprenticeship
Courses for Adults
A Level & Mix
Vocational & T Level
University Centre
Apprenticeship
Courses for Adults
The course helps you have different views on how to better your skills in coaching, which is something I want to do in the future. I'd love to be a coach or PE teacher, because I think it’s great to help kids better themselves in sport.
All the tutors are also super supportive and the fitness testing that's done at the beginning of the year has helped me in terms of my rugby training, because you get to know if there’s anything you need to improve on.
Our former Level 3 Diploma in Sport student Rachel went on to become one of the best female footballers England has ever produced.
During a distinguished international career, stretching from 2016 to 2024, she won 84 caps for her country and scored 16 goals.
In that period, Rachel was a key member of the team that won the 2022 European Championship, making the starting line-up for the 2-1 win over Germany in the final, as she did during the 2023 World Cup final defeat to Spain.
A versatile performer, Rachel represented her country at left back, as well as in attacking positions, and was also capped at Under-23, Under-19, Under-17 and Under-15 level in addition to playing four games for Team GB at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.
At club level, she was the 2022/23 Women’s Super League Player of the Season and Golden Boot winner with 22 goals for Aston Villa and has played professionally in the USA, too.
Ben left College in 2016 with a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching & Development, having already made his professional debut for home-town football club York City at the age of 17.
He was sold to then Premier League club Norwich City five months later and went on to make his Premier League debut against Liverpool before joining another Merseyside club Everton at the age of 22 for a transfer fee of £25million.
Ben subsequently signed for Italian Serie A club Atalanta in 2024.
He has played twice for the senior England team – as a substitute against Austria and in the starting XI against Romania in 2021, having been named in the provisional squad for that summer’s European Championships.
Ben has also represented his country at Under-21 and Under-20 level and was a key player in Norwich’s Championship-winning squad of 2018/19.
Lauren was a BTEC National Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science student with us from 2006 to 2008.
She went on to make her full international cricket debut for England in 2013 and was part of the team that won the 2017 ICC World Cup against India at Lord’s, where she opened the batting and contributed 24 runs.
A wicketkeeper and batter, she has represented the senior national team more than 100 times in the sport’s various formats.
She has played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and Essex, as well as for a number of teams in Australia.
Ronaldo (pictured right) was a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business and Level 2 Award in Event Planning student during the 2014/15 academic year.
He went on to join Leeds United’s Academy in September 2015 after impressing with his performances for the College football team.
Signing a professional deal for the club the following summer at the age of 17, Ronaldo made his first-team debut two days later and, subsequently, represented England at Under-21 and Under-20 level.
He was even named first-team captain just a day after turning 20 by new manager Marcelo Bielsa but was sold to Italian Serie A side Sampdoria the following month for a reported £7million fee and has also played on loan for Italian teams Torino and Hellas Verona.
Ronaldo’s twin brother Romario (pictured left) was also a Business and Event Planning student at York College who joined Leeds United, too, and made the substitutes’ bench for the first team.
He won one international cap at the age of 19 for Guinea-Bissau, where the siblings were born, but injuries hindered his progress in the game.
Our former Sports & Exercise Science student Jack made his Yorkshire first-team debut at the age of 18 and represented England Under-19s while still on Campus at Sim Balk Lane.
He had previously represented his country at Under-15 level and went on to help Yorkshire win the 2014 County Championship at the age of 20
He joined Kent in 2019 and, as a top-order batsman, hit 220 not out in only his second match for his new team against Sussex.
Jack has also served as Kent’s captain.
As a Psychology, Biology and PE A Level student at York College, Emma was selected for the England Colleges football squad, having impressed with her performances for our Development Centre team.
She played senior football for Leeds United but has gone on to carve out a distinguished career as a coach.
Having become Head Coach at Doncaster Belles when she was only 25, Emma became involved in the England set-up just over a year later, working with the different youth level age groups.
She rose to the position of Head Coach of the Women’s Under-23 team in February 2023, at the age of 31, and regularly works alongside the Lionesses’ Senior National Team Coach Sarina Wiegman.
Former Level 3 Sport student Greg started his professional rugby league career with York City Knights and has played in the Super League for Castleford Tigers, Hull Kingston Rovers and Warrington Wolves.
He played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final for Castleford and has represented England Knights – the feeder team for the senior national rugby league team.
While studying for his Biology, Chemistry and Maths A Levels, Sam played for our Development Centre and the English Colleges’ football team, commuting in from Scunthorpe.
He went on to sign a professional contract with his home-town club at the age of 20 and made his first-team debut just over a year later.
Sam subsequently played more than 100 games for Scunthorpe, including appearances at Championship level and in every fixture of the club’s 2013/14 League Two promotion campaign.
He later kept goal for Blackpool and Notts County at Wembley Stadium during their respective 2017 League Two and 2023 National League play-off final victories.
What skills will you develop on a sports course?
You will build practical skills in coaching, teamwork and leadership, as well as problem solving and organisation. These skills prepare you for employment in the fitness sector, public services or progression to sport degrees at university. You will also gain experience relevant to roles such as instructor, trainer or coach.
Are there opportunities for placements or work experience?
Yes, you will have access to work experience opportunities, placements and volunteer roles with sports clubs, governing bodies and organisations. This helps you build experience in the sports industry and develop career pathways for an exciting career in sport or public services.
Can these courses lead to a career in sport or public services?
Yes, these courses prepare you for employment across the sports industry, fitness sector and uniformed public services. Career pathways include roles in sports coaching, policing, health and wellbeing and other specialist areas. Many students also progress to university’s sport degrees.
Can you progress to Higher Education?
Yes, many students progress to Higher Education after completing their qualification. You can continue your studies at university within a school of sport or related discipline, where you may take part in research, laboratory work and advanced study in sport and exercise science.
Are there enrichment opportunities?
Yes, you can take part in enrichment activities through academy programmes, club sport and exercise opportunities, and competitions. You may also have access to scholarship opportunities and take part in classes led by leading academics and industry professionals.
