EDUCATION - SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Having successfully secured the 'Healthy Pupils' fund, the school chose to invest the money in Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gym equipment
Following a successful application to the Healthy Pupils Fund, St Cuthbert’s Catholic High in School in St Helens secured funding to install an outdoor gym. The school was keen for the students to have a facility that could be used by both its own students as well as those from its partner primary schools. The school specified a range of equipment that would be safe and beneficial to a wide range of ages and abilities.
The gym needed to be suitable for use for both St Cuthbert’s and partner Primary Schools as part of its transition programme. The project needed to come in on budget while offering a broad range of physical benefits for all abilities and ages. Maximising the user stations, getting as many students using the gym at one time was also important The gym will be used before and after school, during recreational times at break and lunchtimes and as part of structured PE classes and for team training sessions, so it needed to complement the curriculum and the school’s wider approach to sport.
Fresh Air Fitness supplied and installed a seven-piece outdoor gym, all from our Key Stage 3 & 4 Secondary School Range of equipment, which would provide a variety of physical benefits. It includes 2 pieces of cardio equipment; the Air Skier and The Rider, great for raising the heart rate, getting the whole body working, burning fat and toning the body. From the strength range, the gym also includes a Seated Leg Press, ideal for building muscle and tone along the whole legs, a Combination Pull Down and Chest Press, for building muscle and tone in the arms, back, shoulders and chest. Along with a triple pull up, for strengthening and toning the upper body and a Push-up and Dip Station.
Finally, from the flexibility and balance range, the gym also included Tai Chi Spinners. Great for promoting flexibility and coordination in wrists, arms and shoulders, offering a great warm-up. The wheels also move independently allowing arms to work clockwise or anticlockwise, excellent for mental agility. Durable and easy to use, the seven different pieces of gym equipment sit in a specially prepared area just on the edge of the school’s playing fields. There is one single station and six multi-stations, allowing 14 students to workout at any one time.
We are delighted to have this outdoor gym at St Cuthbert’s. It is well researched that young people with better health and wellbeing are far more likely to achieve, not just academically but socially, emotionally and psychologically. St Cuthbert’s has a culture of positive wellbeing for all. By adding this gym to our existing facilities, we can continue to promote physical and mental health opportunities, reinforcing our students’ achievements that in turn improves wellbeing, the ability to thrive and achieve their full potential.
MRS CATHERINE TWIST, HEADTEACHER
