Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School launches Pitch In campaign

Bishop Wordsworth’s Grammar School is running its Pitch In campaign to raise the money to build a new multi-use games area (MUGA) at its Britford Lane sports ground.

Director of sport, Richard Demain-Griffiths said: “We have a ‘sport for all’ philosophy at Bishop’s and weekly sporting activity is part of the core curriculum for every pupil.

"There are numerous opportunities beyond the curriculum for our pupils to get involved in, and benefit from, participation in sport – from competitive fixtures to enrichment activities and lunchtime clubs to after-school training sessions.

“We are committed to ensuring all pupils develop sporting skills at the appropriate level and have a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity for life. Apart from the benefits that sport brings young people in terms of physical activity, confidence, teamwork, resilience, discipline and mental wellbeing.

“We want to encourage all pupils at Bishop's to get involved and try new things, even if that means taking themselves out of their comfort zone. We believe that by doing so, pupils discover for themselves passions which they didn’t think possible and talents they didn’t even know they had.

“To enable us to deliver the best possible sports training and opportunities for our pupils, we need new facilities that they can use all year round. We have launched a fundraising appeal for a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and need support from the local community."

The sport facilities have not been updated since the addition of the sports hall in 2004 and since that time pupil numbers have increased by 248 in the last five years.

This increase, the school says, has resulted in the “wear and tear” on its playing fields and there is also currently not enough indoor space to facilitate the varied sporting programme.

The introduction of girls into the sixth form has also led to sports provision being expanded at the school, including women-only sports such as netball, lacrosse, women’s rugby, women’s cricket and women’s football.

The new MUGA will be able to be used throughout the year and will also have five retractable cricket lanes, which the school hopes will inspire more boys and girls to play cricket. It will also feature a netball and tennis court as well as a five-aside football pitch.

Mr Demain-Griffiths says the new MUGA will "give opportunities to deliver more and develop greater opportunities" for pupils to get involved in a variety of sports.

Students at the school have welcomed the campaign and say the new facilities would improve training and playing facilities for cricket, rugby, netball, tennis, hockey, football and lacrosse, which can be used all year round, but also "help future generations" get involved in sports.

The MUGA would also be opened up for local community groups to use.

The school needs the community to get behind the campaign. If you would like to support it or to find out more contact head of development and Alumni, Caroline Popham at cep@bishopwordsworths.org.uk or go to bwsnetwork.org.uk/supportus

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