Watch: Work begins at Walsall school looking to transform its sporting facilities

The project at Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall is for an all-season, all-weather pitch, a 2G astro turf pitch for hockey, five-a-side football; extension of the pavilion with access for external sports clubs to build links with community based clubs and generate school income. 

The cricket square will also be redesigned to make better use of the space available for grass pitches, and cover the cost of ground drainage works.

The total cost of the Sutton Road school's Future Sport project is expected to be £2.4m. It is for a three-phased development plan which aimed to make major improvements to the sports facilities to benefit both PE lessons, sports matches and sports clubs in the community which will be able to use the multi-use games area (MUGA) when completed.  

The school which has mainly male pupils says it will improve sporting performances in competitions as a direct result of investing in better facilities and hopes to develop  both county and national players across all sports within the next decade.

Head Richard Langton says: “I am delighted that three years of hard work is starting to become a reality.  The campaign board and site team have worked incredibly hard to get to this point, overcoming many hurdles of planning andf undraising.  We are trying to create a genuine sporting legacy for many generations of people to benefit from, within the school and amongst local sporting clubs.”

"At Queen Mary’s Grammar School we know we have a school that delivers excellence in sport. However, it is against the odds."

 "We also have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a huge impact on the lives of people in Walsall by providing them with the sporting and physical activity space they so desperately need. Please join us now in making a real difference for our whole community.

"We have the potential to do and achieve so much more. We have a unique opportunity now to improve our campus by developing sporting facilities on a par with the best facilities in the Midlands, maximising our achievement in competitive sport and wider participation in sport throughout our student body and local community."

The school which regularly competes in rugby, hockey and cricket has no on-site hockey pitch and is forced to hire pitches elsewhere to host matches. It has featured in The Cricketer magazine's 'Top 100 Schools Guide' for the last five years. 

Deborah Bannister, Parent and Walsall Campaign chairperson, said, “It is so exciting that after three years of tireless work by the headmaster, the project board and those who have committed their time and money to support the Future Sport Project, that building work has now started on phases One and Two. Our vision is to give thousands of children, families and local groups access to first-class facilities in their loca lcommunity, to open doors to opportunity and break down barriers.

"With strong progress already made I would encourage anyone who is interested in contributing to the project – whether with time, fundraising ideas, connections or a donation – to get in touch with the school. It is a great opportunity to be involved in a fabulous project that really will transform access to sport in the local area.”

Walsall Council last year approved the development and plans for new floodlights to be provided on the school’s tennis courts in a move which will support Walsall Tennis Club which operates from the school which among the best performing in the UK. 

To support the school contact [email protected] or telephone 01922 720696.