Lawn Manor Academy has raised the bar in school fitness with the inauguration of a top-tier gym facility, a collaboration made possible through a partnership with Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP).
The school has transformed a formerly underused area into a professional quality gym with dedicated sections for cardio training, weights and combat sport, together with a room ideal for holding exercise classes.
This ambitious project was made feasible under the Department for Education’s Opening Schools Facilities programme. Aimed at enhancing existing sports facilities and fostering partnerships with sports organisations, the initiative aims to broaden accessibility and engagement in physical activities.
In collaboration with WASP and renowned gym outfitter Absolute Performance, renowned for its work with the British Olympic Association, the new gym complex is tailored to cater to students’ needs while aligning with the school’s physical education curriculum and overarching goals. The gym is now open daily, offering sessions before and after school for both students and the wider school community.
Mike Wilson, Head of Sport & Leisure, expressed enthusiasm about the transformative impact of the Club House on the school community. “The Club House has been transformational for the school. It means that pupils who wouldn’t normally have access to this standard of facility can learn more about their health and improve their fitness, as well as giving everyone a great choice of what to use in lessons.”
He continued, “We are also using the gym to support our pupils who may be disengaged with their learning and to promote positive behaviour and early results have been incredibly positive. Improving our pupils’ physical literacy impacts on every aspect of their school life and beyond as it can help them focus in class as well as promote healthy living too.”
Stuart Arthur, Project Lead at WASP, shared similar sentiments, highlighting the collaborative efforts that made this initiative possible. “When we first met with Mike to discuss the opportunity he had great aspirations as to what he wanted to achieve, especially in order to support children who were struggling to make the most of their PE lessons due to their fitness levels and the traditional after school clubs didn’t appeal to them.”
He added, “When we saw the potential of the area of the school that would become the Club House and that the vision was supported by everyone at Lawn Manor, we knew it was ideal for the programme and that the school would have a high quality gym that would last many years.”
Lawn Manor Academy, under the umbrella of the Ascend Learning Trust, continues to elevate educational standards and student well-being through innovative initiatives like the new gym facility. For further information, visit www.lawnmanor.org.
