Powerleague teams up with school for £3m project

Bulmershe School near Reading is to undergo a £3m overhaul of its sports facilities after teaming up with five-a-side football centre operator Powerleague.

The school’s new sports centre will include 10 five-a-side, all weather football pitches; a health and fitness centre; new cricket square; multi-purpose areas for rugby and hockey; three indoor and five outdoor tennis courts; and new aerobics and dance studios.

The school's partnership with Powerleague will see the company providing and and operating the five-a-side pitches, which will be available to use by the public.

The school will have sole use of the football facilities from 8am until 4.30pm every school day.

There will be community use until 6pm and the pitches will then be run commercially for competitive leagues during the evenings.

The school will also receive an annual fee from Powerleague for the use of the land, which the school will invest in future sports projects.

Peter Lewis, head teacher of Bulmershe School, said: “As a specialist school for sport we have a key role to play in developing sporting provision and these developments confirm our status as a leader in sports for all – in the school and across our community.

“Powerleague offered to invest £1.72m on he campus in establishing this facility. The pitches will also be used for a variety of other games such as rugby and athletics training.”

The new sports facilities are scheduled to be completed by September.