The L5/M5 Sports Scholars visited St George's Park this term, to experience 'a day in the life of an elite athlete'. It was an exciting opportunity to see behind the scenes of the England football teams exclusive training environment. A particular highlight of the day was a dip in the hydrotherapy pool, after a tough on-pitch conditoning session. 

We also welcomed world renowned physiotherapist, Dr Ros Cooke, to school to deliver some education on female health. Ros has worked alongside multiple national teams and is a specialist in pre-elite female athletes. It was a pleasure to have such an inspiring figure visit our school community. Middle 5 pupil, Jennifer Mardle, spoke about her experience below.

A bunch of Year 9 and 10 sport scholarship pupils had the amazing opportunity to visit St George’s Park, which is the national training centre for the England men’s and women’s football teams. It’s where some of the best players in the country train, and being able to experience what a day of elite-level training is like was honestly incredible.

When we first arrived, we were all so excited. The facilities looked amazing — perfectly kept pitches, modern buildings, and everything felt so professional. We started the day off with some technique drills, focusing on our running style and how to be more efficient when sprinting, especially during short, sharp accelerations. The coaches explained how small changes in posture, arm drive, and stride length can make a huge difference. After practising this, we did some sprint testing, where we were timed over short distances to see how fast we could accelerate.

Next, we moved on to a series of cone, coordination, and cardio drills. These were all about learning how to move quickly and efficiently — which is so important in most sports. We practised quick changes of direction, balance, and how to get to different places as fast as possible without wasting energy. It was really challenging but also a lot of fun, and you could tell these were the types of drills professional players do all the time.

After that, we went to another part of the pitch where a conditioning course had been set up. This was probably one of the hardest parts of the day! We had to dribble a football through a large course with lots of cones and mini hurdles to make it more intense. We continuously ran around the course for five minutes, then had a two-minute break, and repeated that five times. By the end, we were all exhausted, but it really pushed everyone to their limits and gave us a taste of how much hard work goes into elite training.

To finish the outdoor morning session, we did a 1 kilometre run. This really pushed everybody to dig deep, especially after our bodies were already feeling tired from all the conditioning drills we had just completed. It tested both our physical and mental strength, and even though it was tough, everyone gave it their all and pushed through to the end before finally finishing for lunch.

We then had a well-deserved lunch break inside one of the indoor facilities, which gave us time to rest and chat about how the morning went. Everyone agreed it was tough, but also really enjoyable.

After lunch, we headed into the gym, which was honestly amazing. It was full of professional-level equipment, and it felt really special being allowed to use it. We began with some strength and ability testing, followed by a full gym session that worked both our upper and lower bodies. It was hard work, but really motivating to think that this is the same kind of training the England players would be doing.

Next, we went to the pool facilities, which included both hot and cold plunge pools. We did one minute in each, alternating between hot and cold, and repeated that eight times. It was definitely a shock at first, especially the cold plunge, but it helped our muscles recover after such an active day. After that, we moved into the main pool where we did some water drills and movement exercises, and to finish off, we played a quick, fun game of water polo. Even though everyone was exhausted, it was such a great way to end the day.

Overall, this trip to St George’s Park was an unforgettable experience. The facilities were an absolute dream, and I feel so privileged to have been able to use them. The coaches worked us to our absolute max, but in the best way possible — it showed all of us what elite-level training really feels like. Throughout the day, I think everyone learned something new about themselves, whether it was a strength or a weakness they hadn’t noticed before. Personally, it motivated me so much to keep working hard and to keep improving in my own sport.

If I ever get the chance to go again, I would say yes without hesitation. It was truly inspiring and made me want to aim as high as possible, so maybe one day I’ll be able to train at facilities like St George’s Park for real.