The fitness suite has undergone a major refurbishment to bolster the training and development of athletes and sports teams across the schools. 

The facility has doubled in size and been fitted with additional new equipment, as well as an inbuilt sound system, specialist lighting, and large screen digital monitors. 

The suite houses a dedicated cardio training area, with Concept 2 bikes and rowers, and an extensive weights section, with three weight benches, TRX (suspension training) equipment, a customised BLK BOX power rack, new dumbbell racks, and squat racks with Olympic barbells and weight plates.

Alun Barlow, Director of Sport at Dame Allan’s Schools, said: “The fitness suite is an outstanding facility for our performance athletes to train in.

“Hopefully it will have a really positive impact on the physical fitness of students and the performance of our sports teams.”

The suite is already being used in curriculum PE lessons, allowing up to 20 pupils at a time to work at various stations. Specialist fitness coaches from Momentum, in Gosforth, also use the facility to lead strength and conditioning sessions with pupils, putting focus on lifting technique, injury prevention, recovery and rehab. 

Rugby player Isaac, who is in Year 12 and studying  PE at A Level, said: “Personally, I like to use the fitness suite at lunchtimes or during a free period, if it’s available, and as a team, we’ll go in there to train when the pitches are unplayable. 

“It’s a brilliant facility and provides a much better environment within which to exercise.”