The Barclays Girls’ Football in Schools is a national programme, delivered in collaboration with Barclays, the Youth Sport Trust, and The FA, aiming to ensure equal access to football for girls in schools. It’s part of the Made For This Game initiative – a movement to inspire and empower girls through football, helping them become confident players, leaders, coaches, and officials.

The programme builds a sustainable infrastructure of schools committed to developing the girls’ game, improving physical literacy, wellbeing, and confidence.

Made For This Game

Made For This Game is a national campaign led by The FA to promote gender equality in football. It celebrates the idea that every girl deserves the opportunity to play, lead, and thrive in football — whether on the pitch, in leadership, or through coaching and officiating.

What programmes are available to your school, to empower girls through football?

The programme provides tailored pathways for primary, secondary, and SEND schools:

Primary Schools

KS1 DISNEY-INSPIRED SHOOTING STARS
Uses Disney storytelling to engage girls aged 5–11 in football and physical activity, supporting movement skills and physical literacy.

Primary SEND

SEND SHOOTING STARS
An inclusive extra-curricular club using superhero storytelling and movement to build agility, confidence, and self-image for primary-aged children with SEND.

Secondary Schools - Barclays Game On Pathways

GO Teach
For PE teachers and girls in curriculum PE. Uses football to deliver life skills and boost teacher confidence and pupil engagement.

GO Lead
Empowers girls in leadership roles (Football Activators) to design and lead football activities.

GO Play
Fun, inclusive extra-curricular football for girls in Key Stage 3.

GO Coach
Develops coaching skills and confidence in KS4 girls, encouraging leadership from the sidelines.

GO Referee
Builds confidence and decision-making by supporting KS4 girls to take on officiating roles.

Young Leaders Free Training Offer

Active Essex, in partnership with the Move With Us Leaders Academy, is excited to offer the Go Lead Training Programme – designed to inspire and equip young leaders to champion girls’ football in their schools and communities.

Who is it for?

Year 8 and Year 9 students who are passionate about football and want to develop leadership and coaching skills to make a difference.

By taking part in Go Lead training, students will:

  • Develop Leadership Skills to lead and organise sessions
  • Gain Confidence as Coaches
  • Receive a Certificate of Recognition

Upcoming Sessions

Area Date Time Location
CPR & Basildon 28/01/2026 10:30–12:30pm The Deanes School (Benfleet)
Colchester/Tendring 11/02/2026 10:00–12:00pm Colchester Rugby Club
Southend TBC TBC TBC
Harlow/Uttlesford TBC TBC TBC
Brentwood/Woodham Ferrers 12/02/2026 12:30-14:30 Billericay Town F.C
Apply by 16th January
Please note, there is limited capacity for this event. Submitting an application does not guarantee a place. All applications will be reviewed, and you will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.
Register here!

Key training dates for Barclays Girls’ Football in Schools programmes:

Shooting Stars inspired by Disney

Free online course

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SEND Shooting Stars (virtual training session)

12th February 2026, 2:30pm-4:30pm

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PlayHers (virtual training session)

4th December 2025, 11am-12pm

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13th January 2026, 11am-12pm

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19th January 2026, 3:30pm-4:30pm

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11th February 2026, 3:30pm-4:30pm

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5th March 2026, 11am-12pm

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11th March 2026, 3:30pm-4:30pm

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21st April 2026, 11am-12pm

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11th May 2026, 11am-12pm

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18th May 2026, 3:30pm-4:30pm

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Barclays Game On - GO TEACH (virtual training session)

10th December 2025, 3:30pm-5:30pm

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4th February 2026, 12:45pm-2:45pm

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7th May 2026, 3:30pm-6pm

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Barclays Game On - GO COACH (virtual training session)

21st January 2026, 3:30pm-5pm

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Barclays Game On - GO REFEREE (virtual training session)

8th December 2025, 3:30pm-5pm

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8th January 2026, 4pm-5:30pm

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28th January 2026, 3:30pm-5pm

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Want to get involved?

Be part of the movement, sign the pledge and sign your primary or secondary school up to the programme.

Be part of the pledge

Essex Strategic Leads

Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford – Steve Bish and Ellie Turner-Powell based at the Deanes School: [email protected]

Brentwood, Colchester, South Woodham Ferrers and Tendring – Tom Weller at Active Essex: [email protected]

Chelmsford, Thurrock and Braintree – Mia Claydon at Active Essex: [email protected] 

Harlow – Andrew Martin based at Passmores Academy: [email protected]

Southend – Kirk Edwards based at Shoeburyness High School: [email protected]

Uttlesford – Jackie Coleman based at Saffron Walden High School: [email protected]

Contact your local strategic lead or email [email protected] to find out more.

Tom Weller

Relationship Development Officer - West

Email: [email protected]

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