The Table
Tennis Academy
The Table Tennis Academy is now recruiting student athletes for the next academic year. Apply online here.
All candidates for the Table Tennis Academy must be on a full-time course at SGS College. We offer academic opportunities for BTEC qualifications, A-levels, higher national diplomas and degree courses.
Candidates must be over 16 from the start date of their chosen course. For more information, you can contact the head coach at nick.davidson@sgscol.ac.uk.
Practice and Competition
Our student athletes are provided with the opportunity of practice and competitions, with primary squad training sessions timetabled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Coaching with at least 3 primary squad sessions at week
- Strength and Conditioning Sessions
- Entry to BUCS competition on HE Course
- Support at Local and National Tournaments
Our team competes in the AOC Games and has a proud tradition of competing for provincial and national honours.
Our student athletes are provided with the opportunity of 3 primary squad training sessions a week. These training sessions are timetabled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The facilities at SGS are state of the art, and Academy students get personalised programmes to follow during their supervised strength and conditioning gym sessions, in addition to access to full-time physiotherapists, who help with injury avoidance and rehabilitation.
The Table Tennis Academy also caters for recreational players looking to reach their maximum potential in a competitive and friendly team environment, while pursuing their educational course of choice at SGS College.
The Table Tennis Academy also has a very strong connection with the local community, who regularly fill the sports hall at WISE Campus.
Long-Standing Tradition
The Table Tennis Academy has long been an integral part of the sporting environment at SGS College, ever since its establishment as one of the original academies.
Over the years, the Academy has consistently developed student athletes from the ages of 16 to 19, who are provided with the opportunity to combine their academic study of a wide range of courses at SGS College with top-level coaching every week under the tutelage of the Head of Academy, Nick Davidson.
Notable Successes
The Table Tennis Academy has had major success since its foundation, and has won national titles.
Our alumni include the current Paralympic champion and gold medallist from Rio 2016 Will Bayley, who also won the silver medal at the London Paralympics. Will has been a European champion and the number one ranked player in the world. In 2017, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to table tennis.
Another of our former students is Darius Knight, who competed for Team GB at the London Olympics and climbed to become the second highest ranking table tennis player in Europe. Darius has twice been English National Champion and won silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Gavin Rumgay has been Scottish National Champion on ten different occasions and won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Other former SGS students to medal at the Commonwealth Games include Craig Howieson and Tim Yarnall.
More recently, Academy student Christoph Zickert won the gold medal at the AOC National Championships in 2016.
Community Club
SGS Sport operates a range of SGS Sport Community Programmes for all levels of junior and adults to develop the sport of Table Tennis. Throughout our history as a provider, we have supported a number of people to maintain a healthy lifestyle and develop a new skill and make new friendship groups. We have also supported athletes to go on and play at the highest level of their Sports. This includes a several athletes who have gone on to represent their County or International Tournaments.
The community table tennis programme provides juniors and adults the opportunity to learn a new skill and develop their knowledge to take their game to the next level. The programme offers coaching and practice from our high-level academy coaches and support at local tournaments where possible. There is a small weekly cost available to participate and details of this will be sent when you enquire.
The programmes run on a Wednesday evening for coaching and start with a junior session from 6.15-7.45pm and this is followed by our adult group from 8.00-9.30pm. Full details can be obtained by contacting the Table Tennis Academy Head Coach Nick Davidson via email at Nick.davidson@sgscol.ac.uk
The Coaching Team
Nick Davidson
Nick Davidson (Head Coach of the Table Tennis Academy) has an experienced coaching and development career spanning over 20 years. He is a two times winner of the SW Regional Table Tennis Coach of the Year 2019 and 2023. The former Gloucestershire County Junior Coach works with several top cadets and juniors. He was also the Head Coach and Development Officer at Cheltenham Table Tennis Club when they won the South West Table Tennis Club of the Year and were awarded 3rd place in the National Premier Club Table Tennis awards.
Now full time at SGS College he is helping shape the development and careers of several players to allow them to reach their goals and full potential.
The table tennis Head Coach is Nick Davidson a very professional individual who brings over 20 years' experience.
- Level 3 Head Coach with Table Tennis England
- 2 x SW Regional Table Tennis Coach of the Year 2019 and 2023
- SW Coach at the AOC National Championships
- Former County Coach with Gloucestershire Junior Squad
- Level 2 qualification in Nutrition and Health
- A qualified tutor and assessor for Table Tennis England on their education programme.
How to Apply
If you are looking to join our College Academy on a full-time Level 1-3 course on either a BTEC or A-Level program then please apply online for the course you want below.
Degree Program and UCAS
If it is our degree program you are interested in then please click below to see the full list of courses we offer. Then for help with applying through UCAS please email Bev Awre (bev.awre@sgscol.ac.uk).
University Courses