Devonshire House Prep School Has Launched Exclusive Football Academy in Partnership with Tottenham Hotspur
Devonshire House, one of North London’s leading prep schools, has announced a new Football Development partnership with Tottenham Hotspur
Football Club, bringing professional-level football coaching directly to the school from September 2025.
At the heart of the partnership is the appointment of a full-time Spurs Football Development coach from the Premier League club, who will lead the newly created Devonshire House Football Academy. The programme is open to all pupils, with dedicated pathways for both girls and boys – building on the school’s strong tradition of inclusivity and sporting excellence.
'We’re proud to offer every pupil – whether they play for fun or show real promise –the chance to grow through football,' said Henry Keighley-Elstub, Headteacher of Devonshire House.
'This partnership will bring elite coaching into our every day school life and reflects our belief in sport’s role in building confidence, resilience and teamwork.'
The programme includes weekly training sessions, and the chance to participate in development sessions or matches at the club’s training centre.
The school’s ethos of “Stretching minds, building character, and developing confidence” underpins the initiative, which aligns with the school’s co-curricular strength in sport and its recent academic success. Pupils have achieved record numbers of scholarship offers and top 11+ outcomes, while the school’s sporting provision includes regular use of Saracens’ Stone X Stadium and a broad sporting programme that includes football, netball, rugby, athletics and more.
Inclusion and inspiration are central to the vision for the academy. The school hopes to echo the impact of the England Lionesses, whose success has transformed girls’ football across the UK.
'We’re excited to work with Devonshire House and help expand access to the game for its students,' said Ross Metherell, Spurs Football Development Partnerships Manager, Tottenham Hotspur
. 'Spurs Football Development is about giving every young person the opportunity to fall in love with football, build confidence, and feel part of something special.'
The partnership is part of a broader initiative led by Dukes ÍÑ¿ã°É, the group that operates Devonshire House. With over 60 schools and nurseries across ten countries, Dukes has a growing track record of combining academic excellence with exceptional co-curricular opportunities.
'At Dukes, our mission is to create extraordinary opportunities for every child – on the pitch, in the classroom, and beyond,' said Aatif Hassan, Chairman of Dukes ÍÑ¿ã°É and Chair of Governors at Devonshire House.
'We’ve seen the transformational impact of similar partnerships, such as our programme with FC Porto in Portugal, and we’re proud to bring something equally ambitious to our pupils in London.'
February 2026