Latest News

In secondary education, the challenge of persistent absence often signals a deeper disconnection from the school community. When students feel they don’t belong, the gap between them and their education grows.

At Nottingham Forest Community Trust, we deliver Premier League Inspires, a targeted mentoring and personal development programme designed specifically for secondary and post-16 students (aged 11–18). Our focus is on those who are at risk of disengagement or persistent absence, providing them with a new pathway back into successful learning.

The core of Premier League Inspires is the relationship between the student and the mentor. We work directly with schools to build a sense of belonging through trusted, mentor-led support. Our staff move beyond traditional boundaries to engage young people in a way that combines wellbeing, social action, and careers-focused activity – all uniquely linked to the world of professional football.

This approach allows us to reach students who may have stalled in a standard classroom environment by offering:

Targeted Mentoring: 1-on-1 and small group support for students facing significant barriers to learning.
Wellbeing & Resilience: Using the high-pressure world of elite sport to teach emotional regulation.
Social Action: Empowering students to lead their own community projects, creating a sense of agency and pride.
Careers-Focused Activity: Direct links to the industry of professional football to broaden horizons and future aspirations.

Our objective is to re-engage young people by addressing the root causes of their absence. By creating a bridge between the school and the football club, we provide a golden thread of support that helps students find their place within the education system again.

The impact of this targeted approach is clear:

79% reduction in absenteeism across our targeted secondary cohorts.
86% reduction in exclusion risk for participating students.
90% of participants reported an increased sense of school belonging.

Secure Your Secondary Partnership for 2026/27

We are looking to partner with Secondary schools and Multi-Academy Trusts for the 2026/27 academic year. If you are looking for a strategic, evidence-based partner to help tackle persistent absence and build student resilience, let’s start a conversation.

To explore our full secondary offer and discuss your school’s priorities for 2026/27, contact our Schools Manager, Jordan Ferrer, at jordan.ferrer@nottinghamforest.co.uk or enquire here.