Schools of Football

The School of Football initiative is part of the Scottish FA’s mission to encourage more people to play the game, more often.

The Scottish FA Schools of Football are about more than just playing ability, they aim to mould better citizens, as well as better footballers, through social and educational development.

As part of the programme, groups of pupils were selected to attend Cumnock Academy; Craigie High School, Dundee; Braidhurst High School, Motherwell; Newbattle High School, Dalkeith; Castlehead High School, Paisley; and St Machar Academy, Aberdeen, to follow an enhanced timetable which includes a period of football activity every day.

Football is used as a tool to motivate the pupils, and their place on the School of Football programme depends on school attendance and academic improvement.

Players are selected on footballing ability as well as a range of other criteria. Scottish FA coaches lead the selection and football aspects, but the programme is very much a partnership with local authority education departments, school teachers, active schools co-ordinators and football development officers.

Throughout the programme, players have the opportunity to be identified by senior clubs involved in the Scottish FA Youth Initiative programme.

The Scottish FA Schools of Football are supported by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative.