Joint £1.7m funding secures school new sports centre, writes GEORGE HAMILTON

A £1.7m sports centre has been unveiled to parents and pupils at an Oxfordshire school. The new site at Bartholomew School in Eynsham replaces a rundown sports centre which staff and pupils felt was embarrassing the school.

Plans for a new centre were mooted 18 years ago by then headteacher Bill Berry. But it was not until the school secured the necessary funding from The Big Lottery Fund, Sports England, Oxfordshire County Council and Eynsham Parish Council that the building work began a year ago.

Part of the centre is to be called the Berry Hall in recognition of the former headteacher's hard work and his keen interest in squash and golf.

Bill Berry, who was invited to the opening: said "This facility is about encouraging children to take part in physical activity, not just competitive games and keeping fit has made it possible for those who would normally shy away from PE to get involved."

The centre has a fully equipped 30-station gymnasium, a new four-court sports hall, reception and changing areas and a lift to ensure full access for dsiabled people to the upper floor.

A deal between the school and West Oxfordshire District Council also saw the creation of a fitness suite which is available to the public.

Year-13 student Liz Riley, 17, said: "It is great. The gym upstairs is really good. My friends all love it. We use the sports hall at lunchtime and use the gym after school.

"The old sports hall was awful really. The basketball hoops did not have nets on and it was a bit embarrassing when you had home games."

PE teacher Milly Clements, who is also a former pupil at the school, added: "The old sports facilities were very dark and not very inviting. The new centre has already been absolutely fantastic. The kids absolutely love it. It is totally different, the teaching is so much more productive."

Headteacher Andrew Hamilton said: "The old facilities were dire, and not pleasant to work in. This is a fantastic facility which is going to make an excellent school even better."

The fitness studio has created a special project, with the support of teachers, for teenage girls, encouraging those not engaged by sport to keep fit into adulthood. The centre also boasts a potential Olympic hopeful, a member of the UK's national ladies rowers' team, who uses the gym regularly to supplement her training programme.

Rick Durrant, managing director of Wycombe Leisure, which manages the centre, said: "I am delighted that we will be part of this very exciting and community-based project. Our company is a non-profit organisation distributing social enterprise that returns any surpluses made to the communities it serves."

While the school has access to the sports hall during the day, the centre is brimming with local groups who have regular bookings, from Combe Junior Football Club, to Freeland's under-nines and Tower Hill FC, to Combe Cricket Club and the Windrush Bowmen archery group.

Oxford's County Badminton Team play matches at the centre every Sunday as well as train there. Eynsham Netball Squad also trains weekly at the centre.

A comprehensive timetable is available on the website at www.wll.co.uk or call 01993 861830.