Talented Athlete Programme
The Talented Athlete Programme at Dollar Academy is designed to support our most dedicated and high-performing student-athletes. The programme helps them balance the demands of training and competition with their academic commitments, enabling each individual to reach their full potential on the field, in the classroom and in their personal lives.
Students selected for the Talented Athlete Programme will benefit from a range of tailored support designed to enhance their development, both as athletes and as young people. This includes:
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Physical Preparation – access to structured strength and conditioning sessions.
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Sports Psychology Workshops – developing focus, resilience, and mental strategies for performance.
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Nutrition Workshops – guidance on healthy eating to support training and recovery.
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Lifestyle and Performance Balance Mentoring – support in managing academic and sporting demands effectively.
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Guest Speakers – insights and inspiration from experienced professionals in the world of sport.
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Parental Guidance – advice on how best to support your child’s journey as a developing athlete.
Purpose
At Dollar Academy, we recognise that many pupils are achieving exceptional things in sport — often without widespread recognition. The Talented Athlete Programme aims to change that. It allows us to:
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Identify and celebrate the achievements of our high-performing student-athletes.
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Support pupils in balancing the demands of school and sport.
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Offer targeted, monthly workshops that promote a healthy performance lifestyle.
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Make better use of the expertise and resources already available within the school.
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Help prevent a decline in academic or sporting performance due to pressure or overload.
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Equip pupils with the tools and experience they need to continue competing at a high level beyond school.
A key strength of the Talented Athlete Programme is the mentorship provided by staff with personal experience in performance sport. These mentors will offer informed guidance and help pupils navigate the demands of both their sporting and academic lives.
This structured, personalised support ensures that each athlete’s development is sustainable and well-rounded.
Identifying Talent
To ensure the Talented Athlete Programme is offered to those who will benefit most, we have conducted a school-wide audit to understand which students are currently competing at a high level. Using this information, we have established selection criteria to guide our decisions.
Typically, pupils representing their sport at county or national level — particularly in Olympic sports — will be eligible. We recognise, however, that each sport is different, and there will be some flexibility built into the criteria.
This approach allows us to focus our resources on those performing at the highest level while remaining fair and inclusive across a range of sporting contexts.
