Varsity Nine and Minerva Virtual Academy Announce Strategic Partnership to Empower Elite Student-Athletes
Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA), an award-winning, DfE-accredited online school, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with Varsity Nine, a leader in elite sports management and U.S. scholarship pathways. This partnership is aimed at giving young athletes aged 14-18 a world-class sporting and academic development pathway.
In youth sport there has often been a "compromise" required when trying to fit a rigorous training and competition schedule into a traditional school calendar. By combining Minerva Virtual Academy’s flexible, student-centred curriculum with Varsity Nine’s expertise in global sporting pathways, the two organisations are providing a high-performance pathway that provides young athletes with the best opportunities for their development and scholarship opportunities in the United States.
The United States Scholarship Pathway offers a prestigious dual-career opportunity for elite athletes to pursue high-performance sport while earning a world-class degree. This unique system provides a seamless bridge between competitive youth athletics and professional career paths, ensuring that academic excellence is prioritised alongside athletic ambition. By accessing some of the world's best training facilities and expert coaching, scholarship recipients are immersed in a high-stakes environment designed to equip student-athletes with a globally recognised qualification and a platform the springboard into professional sport.
Together MVA and Varsity Nine will support upcoming young athletes with the best environment to obtain these global opportunities.
A TAILORED APPROACH TO ELITE PERFORMANCE
Central to this collaboration is a shared commitment to individuality and flexibility. Recognising that athletes often have to compromise their training and competition calendar due to rigid school schedules. MVA provides a learning environment that adapts to the student, rather than forcing the student to adapt to a rigid timetable. This allows athletes to train, travel, and compete globally without falling behind in their studies, giving them the best opportunity to develop their sporting prowess, ranking and recruitability by American coaches.
“We know that despite supporting some of the world’s best youth athletes, that not all will go on to professional careers immediately post sixth form. Many will consequently consider the American Scholarship pathway, which is a fantastic route to earn a degree and receive a scholarship whilst competing in high level sport with the opportunity to go professional thereafter.”
“We are incredibly excited to announce this collaboration with Minerva Virtual Academy. Both organisations share a commitment to providing athletes with the tools, structure and support they need to reach the next level. Our partnership represents a major step forward in ensuring young athletes have the best possible platform for their development and for pursuing scholarship opportunities in the United States and beyond.”
KEY SYNERGIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP
Elite Competition Without Academic Sacrifice: Students can pursue professional-level sporting goals while receiving a top-tier, DfE-accredited education.
Support: Minerva Virtual Academy world class mentoring system led by former professional Olympic, Paralympic athletes and professional sport stakeholders. Mentorship through MVA provides unparalleled insight into the demands of the highest level of competition, which are similar to those experiences at the highest level of collegiate sport.. MVA mentors offer a firsthand experience into demands and mindset that is required to thrive in these environments, providing an excellente foundation for the students who go on to pursue this pathway.
Global Pathways: Varsity Nine will work closely with MVA to support students through the collegiate system, helping students leverage their academic and athletic data to secure life-changing scholarships.
CASE STUDY
One of the students to already access the American Scholarship system with both organisations is Samuel. Whilst being an apprentice at QPR, Samuel also decided to study an A Level through MVA, leading to a scholarship at D1 University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
BRIDGING THE GAP AT KEY EVENTS
As part of the partnership, the Minerva Virtual Academy teamand its students will have a presence at Varsity Nine events throughout the year. These interactions will allow families to see firsthand how virtual learning can be integrated into a high-performance lifestyle, providing the stability needed for long-term success. MVA athletes will also gain access to Varsity Nine combines, which run monthly, and provide opportunities for great data tracking, as well as technical and physical improvement.
“The US Scholarship pathway is one that most MVA student athletes will look to pursue. By partnering with the right agency our students can receive key advice, support and guidance leading to the opportunities best for them.”
ABOUT VARSITY NINE
Varsity Nine specialises in sports management and pathway services for elite young athletes. With a particular focus on the U.S. sports scholarship market, they provide the expertise, networking, and support necessary for athletes to transition from amateur levels to the elite collegiate stage. Over 25% of Varsity Nine supported athletes received a full scholarship and of those who didn’t, the average scholarship amounted to 73% of fees.
ABOUT MINERVA VIRTUAL ACADEMY
Minerva Virtual Academy is an award-winning, DfE-accredited online school for students aged 11–18. Prioritising wellbeing and individuality, MVA offers a flexible, innovative approach to education that empowers students to succeed regardless of their location or external commitments.
