Exciting plans are afoot at St John’s School Leatherhead, a leading co-educational independent secondary school, to develop superb new multi-million pound indoor sports facilities which will include a swimming pool and a dance studio. As well as providing the very best facilities for St John’s pupils, the pool will be available for use by local swimming clubs and neighbouring schools.
St John’s is renowned for its excellence in sport and its swimmers have enjoyed stellar results in national and county swimming competitions. Recently, St John’s pupils won three out of eight titles at the Bath Cup national gala, as well as individual and team titles at the Surrey Swimming Championships.
This project is the most significant development for sport at our school for over a generation
Phase one of the project will be completed by October 2018. It includes the replacing of the existing pool with a new gala standard, 25-metre, six-lane, indoor, heated swimming pool, wet and dry changing facilities and a spectator area. In addition, the new building will contain a purpose-built state-of-the-art dance studio, a teaching classroom and office space.
As well as providing for its own pupils, St John’s is committed to sharing the new facilities with the wider community. Local schools urgently need access to a swimming pool; around 40 per cent of children leave primary school aged 11 unable to swim confidently. St John’s has already responded to this need by welcoming pupils from nearby Leatherhead Trinity School to swim every week. The new facilities will enable St John’s to expand its outreach programme further and work in partnership with more local primary schools and groups.
“This project is the most significant development for sport at our school for over a generation,” said Martin Collier, Headmaster. “Participation in sport is a cornerstone of a St John’s education and helps our pupils learn team work, camaraderie, self-discipline and leadership while promoting their self-esteem, mental and physical wellbeing.”
“As the school has grown in size, we have expanded the number of sports we offer and we have invested in expert coaches,” continued Martin. “So the time is right to move forward with new, future-proof, modern facilities which will inspire and develop the talents of our pupils and other local children.”
The new pool has been designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects; a practice with a longstanding track record in the delivery of world class sports facilities. The pool which they have designed will provide a high quality training and teaching facility which will enable the school to run time trials and host competitions.
“Our swimmers and their coaches have recently achieved exceptional results” noted Martin. “Just imagine what they might be able to achieve after training in this wonderful new pool!”
