Arsenal Soccer Schools Summer 2016: What to Expect This Year

Summer 2016 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet for the Arsenal Soccer Schools programme, and bookings are already open. Whether your child has attended before or you are exploring the idea for the first time, this is a good moment to look at what the coming summer has in store.

Exsportise has partnered with Arsenal to deliver this residential football camp in England since the late 1990s, making it one of the longest-running football club partnerships in junior residential sport anywhere in the UK. That kind of longevity does not happen by accident. The programme has been refined and improved year on year, and 2016 will build on nearly two decades of experience in delivering professional football coaching alongside quality English language tuition.

Four venues across England

This summer, the Arsenal Soccer Schools programme runs across four outstanding boarding school venues in England, each offering a different character and location.

Charterhouse School in Surrey is one of the country's most prestigious independent schools, with superb pitches and facilities. Charterhouse operates as a boys-only venue for students aged 10 to 15. Clayesmore School in Dorset offers a stunning countryside setting further west, while Seaford College in Sussex sits in the rolling South Downs with outstanding outdoor space. Oundle School in Cambridgeshire provides a traditional English market town setting with first-class facilities.

Between these four venues, the programme welcomes somewhere between 600 and 1,000 students each summer, drawn from over 60 countries worldwide. It is a genuinely international environment, and the friendships that form across cultures and languages are one of the things parents tell us they value most.

Arsenal's season is fuelling the excitement

It is hard to talk about Arsenal Soccer Schools in January 2016 without mentioning what is happening at the Emirates Stadium right now. Arsene Wenger's side are having a remarkable season, genuinely challenging for the Premier League title in what has become one of the most unpredictable title races in years.

Mesut Ozil has been in sensational form, already registering 19 assists in the league, a tally that would be impressive for an entire season let alone with months still to play. Alexis Sanchez continues to terrorise defences with his relentless energy, Olivier Giroud has been clinical in front of goal, and Petr Cech has brought the kind of experience and assurance in goal that Arsenal have needed for years.

Hector Bellerin at right back and Laurent Koscielny marshalling the defence have given the squad real balance, and Arsenal fans are dreaming of a first league title since the Invincibles of 2003-04. With Leicester City providing an extraordinary story of their own at the top of the table, this is a season every young football fan is following closely.

That excitement translates directly to the Arsenal football camp UK experience. As Arsenal themselves describe it, the residential programme gives boys and girls the opportunity to "live, learn and experience football coaching the Arsenal way". When Arsenal are playing well, children arrive buzzing with enthusiasm, wanting to learn the skills they have watched their heroes perform on television. The coaching staff channel that energy into structured, high-quality sessions that develop real ability.

What the programme looks like

Every student on an Arsenal residential camp receives coaching from qualified Arsenal coaches, all holding a minimum UEFA B licence. The coaching ratio is capped at one coach for every ten students, which means your child gets genuine individual attention rather than being lost in a crowd.

There are two programme options. The English and Football programme combines three hours of professional Arsenal coaching each day with three hours of English language tuition, delivered in small classes by qualified English teachers. This is our most popular option, particularly with international families, because it turns a football holiday into something genuinely productive.

For students who want to focus entirely on their football development, the intensive coaching option provides six hours of Arsenal coaching per day, covering technical skills, tactical understanding, match play, and the mental aspects of the game.

The programme is open to boys and girls aged 9 to 17 at all venues except Charterhouse, which caters specifically to boys aged 10 to 15. Every student who attends receives an Arsenal Soccer Schools training shirt and water bottle, which tends to become a prized possession very quickly.

Students who stay for two weeks or more also have the opportunity to visit the Emirates Stadium, which is always one of the highlights of the summer. Walking through the tunnel and seeing the pitch where Ozil, Sanchez, and the rest play every other weekend is an experience that stays with young footballers for a long time.

A residential experience that goes beyond football

While the football coaching is the centrepiece, the residential experience matters just as much. Students live in real boarding school accommodation, eat together in the dining hall, and take part in evening activities and weekend excursions organised by our welfare team. Many students return summer after summer, often requesting the same venue and the same weeks as friends they made the previous year.

With students from over 60 countries, your child spends their time living alongside young people from completely different backgrounds, sharing a passion for football and forming connections that stretch across the globe. For many families, that international dimension is just as valuable as the coaching itself.

Book your place for summer 2016

Places on the Arsenal summer camp programme do fill up, particularly at our more established venues and during peak weeks in July. If summer 2016 is looking like the right fit for your child, it is worth securing a place sooner rather than later.

You can view the full list of dates, venues, and fees on our website, or go straight to the booking page to reserve a spot. If you have questions about which venue or programme would suit your child best, get in touch with the team. We are always happy to talk it through.