We have recently opened our newly fitted Performance Gym, which has created exciting opportunities for pupils to improve their health and fitness. We have created two new roles and are pleased to welcome George King as Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach and Samara Nche as Strength and Conditioning Coach, who are working with all pupils to promote ‘sport for all’. George joins us from Denstone College where he worked as Head of Athletic Development and Samara joins us from Surrey Sports Park where she was employed as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach.

The purpose of the facilities and coaches are to help athletes who aspire to progress on to sports related opportunities after Gresham’s and to make sure those in the Talented Athletes Programme reach their full potential. There is also equal focus on those who want to become more confident in the gym and further their understanding of using the equipment in a safe environment. The facilities are used during academic PE lessons to cover the academic curriculum and provide practical learning.

The ethos is being implemented during Games sessions, sports teams practices and during pupils spare time, when they are able to sign up to use the gym. A holistic approach is also being championed, which teaches pupils how to make healthy food choices as well as carry out regular exercise. By having our new coaches working both in the gym and out on the pitches, our pupils are able to contextualise their work and understand how the skills learnt in the gym transfer to games on the pitch.

The gym includes lifting platforms which are installed into the flooring, half squat racks, a multi-use rig and all necessary accessory equipment to support a performance programme.