Elite Football & Education Pathway
Hewens College and QPR College Academy Partner with Queens Park Rangers to Launch Elite Football & Education Pathway
Hewens College, in partnership with QPR College Academy and Queens Park Rangers, is proud to announce the launch of an elite football and education pathway for students aged 16–19.
This innovative programme enables learners to combine professional-level football development with a broad range of academic routes, including vocational qualifications and A Levels, delivered within a high-performance environment aligned to the standards and culture of Queens Park Rangers.
Students will be enrolled at Hewens College, where all academic courses are taught and delivered by the Trust teaching staff, ensuring high-quality education, consistency, and strong academic support. Alongside this, learners will train and compete through the QPR College Academy pathway, benefiting from a fully integrated model where education remains central and football development is delivered at an elite level.
Learners will also have access to high-quality facilities at Hewens College, including grass and 3G astro pitches and a fully equipped gym, supporting technical training, physical development, and performance preparation.
The pathway provides an aspirational route for motivated young people seeking a structured, academy-style football programme alongside their studies. Learners will take part in multiple football training sessions each week during college hours and represent the academy in regular competitive fixtures, gaining valuable experience in a professional football environment.
Football delivery is led by highly qualified coaches with extensive experience across professional academy environments. The programme focuses on developing the whole player — technically, tactically, physically, and mentally — while supporting learners to achieve strong outcomes in their vocational or A Level studies.
Alongside academic achievement, the pathway is designed to support progression into the professional and semi-professional game, as well as higher education and employment within sport. The programme builds on a strong track record of students progressing to play at the highest levels of the game, reflecting the quality of coaching, competition, and individual development embedded within the QPR pathway.
Kevin Browne, Education Lead at QPR College Academy, said:
“This partnership with Hewens College represents a strong and progressive model for post-16 education. By combining high-quality teaching delivered by Hewens staff with an elite football programme, we are giving learners real choice and flexibility while maintaining clear academic standards and progression opportunities.”
Stuart Botham, Vice Principal, added:
“This collaboration brings together education, elite sport, and community impact in a way that genuinely benefits young people across West London. With academic delivery led by Hewens staff and football development aligned to QPR, learners are supported to thrive both in the classroom and on the pitch.”
The Football & Education Pathway is available to students studying vocational qualifications or A Levels at Hewens College, with a strong focus on engaging young people from Hillingdon and the wider West London area. Entry is subject to a successful trial process, and learners may continue to represent their grassroots or community clubs alongside academy participation, where appropriate.
Delivered in partnership with QPR Community Trust, the programme also supports wider outcomes around personal development, wellbeing, and employability. This collaboration ensures learners benefit not only from elite football and academic pathways, but also from the strong community values and opportunities embedded within the wider Queens Park Rangers ecosystem.
Together, Hewens College, QPR College Academy, QPR Community Trust, and Queens Park Rangers are creating a clear and aspirational pathway for young people across West London — supporting success in education, progression into professional and semi-professional football, higher education, employment, and long-term personal development.
