Visiting the school in Blackpool FC's stadium for ITV's EFL show
28 January 2024
Returning to ITV's English Football League Highlights programme for 2024, I took a trip to the school housed at Blackpool FC's stadium.
After comment from staff, students and the Blackpool FC Community Trust chief executive, viewers then saw the club's first team engage in an afternoon kickabout close by to the stadium.
Providing full time education for Year 10 and 11 students who require alternative provision to mainstream education, the school provides students with qualifications in English, Maths and Sport, as well as opportunity to complete The Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The feature was broadcast across ITV's channels on Saturday night before being repeated on Sunday morning. This week, presenter Katie Shanahan was at Derby County to front the programme, which showcased all the day's goals and drama from right across the EFL, as well as my feature.
It was a privilege to visit this remarkable school. Not many young people can say they study full-time in a football stadium, but these students can and it is clearly making a huge impact. The power of football and opportunity made for a brilliant shoot and my thanks to everyone involved in making it happen.
You can watch the feature back by clicking here.