A secondary school in Swindon has opened a brand new professional gym that claims to be ‘one of the best school gyms in the county’.

The gym, which opened this week at Lawn Manor Academy, is styled more like a professional gym than most school gyms and boasts dedicated sections for cardio training, weights and combat sports, as well as a separate room for exercise classes.

The modern gym was designed by a leading gym company Absolute Performance, which also designs and installs equipment for the British Olympic Association, meaning that Lawn Manor students will receive only the very best facilities.

Swindon Advertiser: Staff and pupils at the opening of the new professional quality gym.Staff and pupils at the opening of the new professional quality gym. (Image: Ascend Learning Trust)

“The Club House has been transformational for the school,” said Mike Wilson, Head of Sport and Leisure at 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.

“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.”

The new gym was created in partnership with Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP) as part of the Department for Education’s Opening Schools Facilities programme, which is supporting schools to develop their sports facilities.

“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,” added Stuart Arthur, Project Lead at WASP.

“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.”

The Lawn Manor Academy gym is now open every day before and after school for open sessions for not just pupils but also the wider school community.