Glenalmond College announces landmark partnership with Chelsea Football Club

Glenalmond College in Perthshire, Scotland has announced a landmark partnership with Chelsea Football Club, current FIFA Club World Cup champions, two-time UEFA Champions League winners, and one of the most recognisable names in world football, in a groundbreaking collaboration that marks a first-of-its-kind relationship between a Scottish independent school and a Premier League club of this scale.

Jenny Davey, Warden of Glenalmond College, said: “Sport has been part of life at Glenalmond since the founding of the College, with the first Warden, Charles Wordsworth, noting in his diary that sports facilities, including 'a ground for football, were no less indispensable than classrooms' for pupils. Those keen footballers from 1847 would be amazed at the development of the game today and the opportunities this partnership opens up to the Glenalmond pupils. As we approach our 180th anniversary, we remain a school community where sport is intrinsic to our ambitions for our pupils, fostering academic achievement, character, leadership, and personal growth”.

The partnership will introduce a dedicated football development programme at Glenalmond’s Perthshire campus, combining high-level coaching with the breadth and balance of an exceptional education. Built collaboratively by both organisations, the programme has been designed to develop ambitious young footballers within an environment that values academic achievement, character, leadership, and personal growth as highly as sporting success.

Phil Hughes, Head of Commercial Development, Partnerships and Alumni at Glenalmond College, said: "Chelsea FC’s global reputation for development aligns naturally with Glenalmond’s tradition of nurturing talent, ambition and personal growth in every pupil. Partnering with Chelsea FC reflects Glenalmond’s commitment to delivering a world-class environment where academic ambition and sporting development go hand in hand.

“This partnership is a further illustration of Glenalmond College’s commitment to creating prestigious opportunities which enhance the unique Glenalmond experience and the currently rich opportunities available to our pupils, both inside and beyond the classroom, while continuing to elevate the profile of Glenalmond College on an international stage. We are always keen to engage with organisations that share our ambition and want to play a meaningful role in the future growth of the College.”

Pupils enrolled within the programme will benefit from coaching delivered by Chelsea Football Club coaches and led on-site by a full-time football coach embedded within the College. The experience will also include opportunities for visits to Chelsea’s world-renowned Cobham Training Ground and Stamford Bridge, exposing pupils to one of the most advanced performance environments in global sport.

The announcement marks another major step in the international growth strategy of Glenalmond College under the ownership of 35 Education, operating under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah. With a vision centred on educational excellence, global connectivity, and transformational opportunity for young people, the partnership reflects the scale of ambition now shaping the future direction of the College.

Professor Basak Akdemir, Chairperson of Glenalmond College and Owner of 35 Education, added: “At its heart, this partnership is about opportunity. It is about ensuring that young people have access to exceptional experiences with globally recognised organisations across education, sport, and personal development, while remaining in an environment that nurtures ambition, integrity, and well-being, known for creating well-rounded young adults. 

“William Gladstone believed education should prepare young people not only for success, but for service and leadership. This partnership with Chelsea FC is a modern expression of that founding vision’s ambition, outward-looking and grounded in character.

“Glenalmond College has a proud heritage, but we are equally focused on the future. Our responsibility is to create a modern educational environment where pupils are inspired to pursue excellence in whatever field motivates them, whether that be academia, sport, leadership, the arts, or enterprise. 

“Partnering with Chelsea FC, acknowledged as one of the world's leading football clubs, demonstrates both our ambition and our belief in what young people can achieve when given the right support and opportunities.”

The programme will sit alongside Glenalmond’s established sporting programmes, complementing a performance sport offering that already includes a nationally recognised rugby programme, as well as hockey, golf, tennis, cricket and shooting programmes. Importantly, the partnership has been carefully designed to integrate seamlessly within the wider educational experience at Glenalmond, ensuring pupils can pursue high-level football development without compromising academic breadth or the full benefits of Glenalmond school life.

Steve Shipp, Football Project Manager - Soccer Schools for Chelsea FC, said: “Chelsea Football Club is proud to be partnering with Glenalmond College on a programme that represents an exciting and innovative approach to youth development within education. Throughout our discussions, there has been clear alignment around the importance of creating an environment where young people can pursue sporting ambition alongside academic excellence and personal development. Through this partnership, we look forward to supporting the delivery of a football experience built around Chelsea’s coaching methodology and performance standards, while contributing to a wider educational journey that prepares pupils for success both on and off the pitch.

"We are also excited to use the power of football to create greater access for the wider community, to engage with Chelsea coaching experiences and development opportunities. Glenalmond College has demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering a high quality and values led programme, and we are excited to begin working together as this long term partnership develops”.

For further information on Glenalmond's partnership with Chelsea FC, or to enquire about admissions and scholarships, please contact [email protected] or complete the form on this webpage.