Turn & Face is a relationship-led alternative provision using the unique environment of professional women’s football to help young people rebuild confidence, engagement, resilience and a positive sense of self. The programme is open to both male and female learners and is not about coaching football or developing footballers. Instead, football provides an accessible and engaging environment in which young people can develop trusted relationships with adults, experience success and begin to reconnect positively with learning. Our focus is on the young person first: understanding not only what may be affecting their engagement, but how they feel about themselves, education and their place within the wider community. Delivery is led primarily by players, coaches and appropriately trained staff from Rugby Borough Women’s professional football environment. Sessions combine structured physical and play-based activities with short, manageable periods of classroom-based learning. This gradual transition helps learners enter the learning environment feeling positive and regulated, experience achievable success and build confidence in their ability to participate in education. Small-group delivery and consistent relationships allow us to respond to individual needs, interests and starting points. Learners are supported to develop confidence, communication, teamwork, emotional regulation, resilience and positive behaviours, alongside engagement with learning and preparation for their next steps. We work collaboratively with the referring school and other professionals around the young person, sharing progress and responding to emerging needs throughout the placement. A distinctive part of Turn & Face is creating a genuine sense of belonging. Learners receive access to Rugby Borough Women’s home matches during their time on the programme, enabling the relationships developed through provision to continue beyond the classroom. Seeing players experience both success and setbacks helps make resilience real and relatable, while continued interaction with the team reinforces that learners are valued as individuals, not simply as pupils attending a programme. Progress is recognised regularly. Every three weeks, learners have the opportunity to celebrate their achievements at a home fixture, with family or other significant people invited to share the occasion. Where the learner is comfortable, their progress can be recognised by a player and Turn & Face representative in front of the crowd. Whether the achievement is large or small, the purpose is the same: to help the young person see that their effort matters, their progress is recognised and they have something positive to build upon. Turn & Face is ultimately about creating the conditions in which a young person can begin to believe in themselves again. Through belonging, trusted relationships, achievable learning and meaningful recognition, we aim to help learners reconnect with education and see a positive place for themselves within it.
Course Modules
Tier 2 - Each week combines relationship-based physical and play activities with short, manageable periods of classroom-based learning and personal development. Delivery is tailored to the learner’s individual needs and starting point, with a focus on confidence and self-esteem, emotional regulation, resilience, communication and relationships, teamwork, engagement with learning and preparation for positive next steps. Progress is reviewed throughout the placement, with regular opportunities for recognition and celebration of achievement.
Awarding Body
N/A
Student Expected Outcomes
Learners are expected to develop increased confidence, self-esteem and resilience; improved emotional regulation, communication and relationship-building skills; and greater engagement with learning and education. Through positive relationships, achievable goals and regular recognition of progress, learners will be supported to develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging and improved readiness to participate in learning. Outcomes will reflect each learner’s individual starting point and placement objectives. Depending on the needs of the young person, this may include supporting them to maintain and re-engage positively with their current school placement, reducing the risk of further disengagement or becoming NEET, or building the confidence, skills and readiness needed to progress successfully into their next stage of education, training or personal development. Progress will be monitored throughout the placement and shared with the referring school.
Key Stage course delivered to
Key stage 1 - 6
Admissions Criteria
All learners will complete a pre-admission assessment before a placement is confirmed. This will involve discussion with the referring school and consideration of the young person’s individual needs, interests and circumstances, including any SEND, mobility, physical, cognitive, behavioural, safeguarding or other support needs relevant to their participation in the programme. Turn & Face welcomes referrals for learners with SEND and will consider reasonable adjustments and the support required to enable them to participate fully. The pre-admission process is used to ensure that the provision can safely and appropriately meet the learner’s needs and, where relevant, to identify the most suitable delivery day or group to support positive relationships and engagement. Placements will be considered individually and in collaboration with the referring school.
Staff Experience
Turn & Face is delivered by a multidisciplinary team combining extensive specialist education experience with qualified teaching, SEND support, professional sport, coaching and strong governance. The programme is led by CEO Max Turner, who has over 30 years’ experience within specialist education and alternative provision, including leading multiple schools and chairing governing boards within specialist education settings rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Course Coordinator Katy Morris is a qualified teacher and has been involved in professional women’s football for over 15 years. She holds a postgraduate qualification in Sports Coaching and a Level 2 football coaching qualification, bringing together educational practice and professional sporting experience. The wider delivery team includes professional women’s footballers and experienced coaches who work with children and young people, with qualifications and experience including Sports Science degrees, UEFA B coaching qualifications, classroom-based SEND support and community outreach. The programme is also supported by experienced governance and administration, including expertise in education governance, law and safeguarding-related practice, helping to ensure robust oversight, effective administration and high standards of delivery.
Delivery Area
Coventry and surrounding area, with provision delivered from the Rugby Borough FC setting in Rugby, Warwickshire. Turn & Face provides relationship-led alternative education and inclusion support focused on engagement and re-engagement with education, confidence and self-esteem, resilience, emotional regulation, personal and social development, and positive progression.
Programme length
Placements will normally run for a minimum period through to the end of the school term in which the learner joins the programme, allowing sufficient time to build trusted relationships, establish engagement and demonstrate meaningful progress. There is no fixed maximum placement length. Where the purpose of the provision is to support a learner to maintain their existing school placement, prevent further disengagement or support longer-term stability, the duration will be determined by individual need and agreed through regular review with the commissioning school.
