Forget test results and flash facilities, private schools are increasingly competing for enrolments by joining forces with major sporting clubs. National and global powerhouses from a range of codes are coming onboard to help give schools and their students the winning edge.
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00:00 In Adelaide's eastern suburbs, it's pens down, boots on.
00:07 Don't worry too much about defending if you're going to be a striker.
00:11 Englishman Jamie Lee has been recruited to run the new Manchester City football school at Ross Trevor College,
00:17 which replaces PE lessons for selected students.
00:21 We've certainly seen a spike in the interest of people coming to the college to be part of the program,
00:25 and also a real spike in those that are coming to do our football clinics during the school holidays.
00:30 Man City is one of the best teams in the world and I find it helped me improve.
00:34 Ross Trevor has also partnered with national basketball club the Adelaide 36ers.
00:39 It's a sign of the high stakes involved for schools in attracting students and their fee-paying parents.
00:46 They're competing hard within quite an aggressive market,
00:50 and so they will increasingly grow more diverse or cater to different sports in order to get a bigger piece of the pie.
00:57 Sacred Heart has also signed with the 36ers, as well as Scottish soccer giant Celtic.
01:03 It is an intense battle at times. For us at the moment our enrolment is really strong,
01:08 so we've had significant inquiries for the next few years and things are looking good for us, but you can't rest on your laurels.
01:15 The 36ers' partnerships with three private schools provide benefits for both club and students.
01:21 It's an identification method to see what talent is there locally.
01:25 There are some opportunities within public schools. Woodville High also has a 36ers deal.
01:31 And if basketball's a passion, then why not provide them with those equal opportunities.
01:38 It was a surprise that we got this opportunity and we're all very happy to have had it.
01:43 I love coming to lessons because of that.
01:46 Matthew Smith, ABC News, Adelaide.
01:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]