REDEFINING SCHOOL FOOTBALL WITH LUKE WEBB
Under the guidance of Repton’s Technical Director of Football, Luke Webb, Repton’s footballers are experiencing a transformation in the way the game is taught, played, and understood.
With a background that bridges top-flight professional football and independent school coaching, Luke brings a unique vision to Repton School. At the heart of his philosophy is the belief that academic and athletic excellence are not mutually exclusive. “Young people can perform and learn at the highest level of the industry while still being at school,” he explains. It’s a principle he has proven before, having led a number of former pupils to professional contracts while ensuring they also secured places at top universities.
Webb’s approach is about far more than facilitating excellent athletes. His programme is educational in the broadest sense. Through football, he aims to develop courageous, resilient individuals who understand their own value beyond short-term success or failure. Pupils are taught to embrace the process of improvement, to think tactically, to express themselves creatively, and to thrive in a high-performance environment. There is no shouting or showmanship – just purposeful play, intelligent movement, and players who think for themselves. It’s football, reimagined.
Repton’s football programme under Webb is about more than just drills and matches. It includes strength and conditioning, sports psychology, performance analysis, and even activities like boxing, yoga, and dance to broaden physical literacy and mental resilience. Players are taught to read the game, to manage space, and above all, to play with freedom.
The boarding school environment offers a unique advantage for high-performance football programmes. The immersive nature of boarding life allows pupils to train, study, and recover within a fully integrated environment – eliminating the time lost to travel and enabling a consistent, focused routine. With everyone on campus throughout the term, pupils benefit from structured days, close-knit support networks, and a sense of shared purpose.
Unlike academy players who often feel the pressure of chasing contracts, Repton’s footballers are encouraged to focus on long-term holistic development rather than short-term outcomes. Webb’s emphasis on personal growth (supporting teammates, respecting opponents, and valuing the process) reflects the school’s wider philosophy where character and mindset are as important as technical skill.
Interested in joining a programme where academic ambition and sporting excellence go hand in hand?
Repton offers a limited number of sports scholarships for talented young athletes who aspire to develop their potential in a high-performance, values-driven environment.
Click here to learn more and apply.