We treat athletic development as whole-person development
The ACE Programme is geared towards pupils with the potential to excel in sport. Athletes learn the essential principles of training and apply them to their own progress, developing fundamental movement skills alongside the skills of their chosen sport. We also encourage them to take up other sports that build transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and leadership.
A winning mindset is part of the programme. Every athlete meets setbacks, whether a failed trial or a defeat in competition, and ACE helps them recognise and reflect on those moments and use them to build resilience. Sportsmanship, respect and fair play are expected of everyone involved.
Four kinds of support around each athlete
Each strand builds on the athlete's academy coaching, and from Year 10 the programme adds sports leadership training.
Quality sport-specific coaching in every year group, with access to external coaches and expertise from Year 7.
Movement and prehab skills from Year 5, strength and conditioning coaching from Year 7 and individual programming from Year 8.
Sports nutrition guidance and advice from Year 5, so athletes fuel their training and recovery well.
Goal setting and individual profiling, self-reflection and sports psychology, building confidence and resilience.
A structured pathway that develops with the athlete
Support is added as each athlete is ready for it, from the first school fixtures in Year 3 to sports leadership training from Year 10.
Sport-specific coaching
Access to quality coaching in the athlete's own sport, whatever their age.
Fixtures and competitions
Opportunities to represent Kingsley School in fixtures and competitions.
Movement, prehab and nutrition
Advanced fundamental movement and prehab skills coaching, with sports nutrition guidance and advice.
Goal setting, profiling and strength and conditioning
Guidance with goal setting and individual profiling, access to external coaches and expertise, and strength and conditioning coaching.
Individualised S&C programming
Strength and conditioning programmes are written around the individual athlete.
Video analysis and sport seminars
Self-reflection and video-performance analysis, with access to sport seminars.
Sports leadership
Athletes begin sports leadership training and take on more responsibility for leading others in sport.
The knowledge behind good training
Annual workshops run alongside coaching and give athletes a practical grounding in how to train, recover and perform.
Skill Acquisition
Prehab and Rehab Training
Sports Psychology: performance reflection
Sports Nutrition: sports fuelling tasting
Sport-specific Strength and Conditioning: applied learning session
Coachability, ambition, discipline and resilience
Access to the ACE Programme is through a Sports Scholarship or by identification as a talented athlete. Applicants must be actively engaged in sport outside school, ideally through a club performance pathway. Every participant has a formal review of their progress, including one-to-one meetings with our Sports Department and physical assessments twice a year.
We look for athletes who are coachable and act on feedback quickly, who are organised across school life, and who can make good decisions under pressure. They should be physically and mentally resilient, communicate well and have the potential to be a good role model and leader around school.
Frequently asked questions
What does ACE stand for?
ACE stands for Athlete Centred Education. The ACE Programme is Kingsley's athlete development programme, and it builds coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition and mindset support around each young athlete.
Who is the ACE Programme for?
The ACE Programme is for pupils with the potential to excel in sport. Places come through a Sports Scholarship or by identification as a talented athlete, and every participant must be actively engaged in sport outside school, ideally through a club performance pathway.
What support do young athletes receive?
Support builds by year group. All athletes receive sport-specific coaching, with fixtures and competitions from Year 3, movement, prehab and nutrition guidance from Year 5, goal setting, profiling, external coaches and strength and conditioning from Year 7, individual S&C programming from Year 8, video analysis and sport seminars from Year 9, and sports leadership training from Year 10. Annual workshops cover skill acquisition, prehab and rehab, sports psychology, nutrition and strength and conditioning.
Do you have to be a scholar to join?
No. The ACE Programme is open to Sports Scholars and to non-scholar pupils identified as talented athletes. Every participant must be actively engaged in sport outside school, and each follows the same formal progress reviews, one-to-one meetings with the Sports Department and twice-yearly physical assessments.
How do sports scholarships work?
Generous sports scholarships are available to girls and boys equally in Rugby, Football, Netball, Gymnastics and Judo, for new entrants from Year 7 and for Sixth Form entry, and a General Sports Scholarship covers other sports. Applicants will train regularly, already compete outside school and provide a reference from their current coach or club. After trials and acceptance, every Sports Scholar is enrolled on the ACE Programme. See our Scholarships page or contact admissions@kingsleydevon.com for current deadlines and how to apply.
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