Girls Academy student wins Bexley College award
Congratulations to Girls Academy student Laurel Collins who has been awarded Bexley College’s Partnership Student of the Year.At the start of the 2014-15 season, Gillingham Football Club’s Community Trust launched its very own Girls Academy. This is a further education programme, partnered with Bexley College, aimed at 16-19 year olds looking to achieve their BTEC Level 3 in Sport.
As part of the course the students are based at the Club and come into regular contact with members of staff, ranging from the management team to the media department.
They also continue to push themselves physically with extra training in the Club’s gym and taking part in practical sessions with various coaches throughout the Football Club.
During the course the students have also undergone nine units that have required them to take part in golf, American football and football golf as well as coaching in local schools.
After achieving a distinction in her first year, Centre of Excellence graduate Laurel Collins was awarded with Bexley College’s partnerships Student of the Year.
Laurel was awarded with this achievement due to being a keen learner, eager to help her peers and displaying a professional attitude at all times, in and out of the Football Club.
Laurel has also continued to progress her coaching career further in her time at the Girls Academy by delivering a number of different coaching sessions across Kent.
Laurel said: “The Academy has been a great opportunity for me and has helped me improve key skills, as well as helping me progress not just academically but as a person. It’s a great course and a pleasure to be a part of."
Only recently finishing her time with the Club’s Girls Centre of Excellence she added: “The Centre of Excellence has also had a part in this achievement as it opened this great opportunity up and has been key to my physical development."
As Laurel’s first year in the Girls Academy has come to an end she will prepare for the second year and her first year in Gillingham Ladies where she will push for a first team place.
From all at the club well done to Laurel and all our Girls Academy students who have been an absolute pleasure to have at the club and really set the standard for the Academy going forward.