A Walsall grammar school is celebrating a significant boost for its ambitious campaign to transform its outdoor sporting facilities for students and the community.
Substantial Donation for Sporting Future
Queen Mary Grammar School has received a generous £3,000 donation from the housebuilder, Persimmon Homes Central region. The funding is destined for the school's Future Sport campaign, a major initiative to raise sufficient funds for a comprehensive redevelopment.
The project's scope includes renovating the grass pitches, carrying out essential drainage work, and creating natural turf pitches specifically for cricket and rugby. A key part of the plan is the refurbishment of the existing pavilion, with ambitions to add new changing rooms and improve the social facilities on site.
Creating a Lasting Community Asset
Headteacher Richard Langton expressed his enthusiasm for the project's wider impact. He stated that the improvements will benefit not only the school's 1,400 students but also the broader local community in Walsall.
He confirmed that the enhanced facilities will allow more time to be made available for local clubs including Walsall CC, Bloxwich CC, Bronze CC, Walsall TC, Beacon HC, and Walsall RFC, as well as Staffordshire cricket and other schools and community groups.
Mr Langton highlighted a particular focus on supporting disadvantaged groups. He referenced Sport England data identifying Walsall as an area of significant inactivity, where Asian and black children, girls, and those from less affluent families are less likely to play sport.
"We want to encourage sports clubs to grow their membership and attract more children into sport," he said, adding that the goal is to "provide access for thousands of people," creating a significant local asset. Work has already begun on the first two phases of the project, which has already secured £1 million in pledges.
Building More Than Just Homes
Joseph Davis from Persimmon Homes Central recently visited the school to present the donation. He emphasised that the company's mission extends beyond constructing houses.
"What we do is about much more than just building homes, it’s about leaving a lasting positive legacy in the communities that we build in," Mr Davis remarked. He added that the company is "always delighted to lend a hand to local schools and community groups" and that it was "great to be able to provide Queen Mary Grammar School with this donation."
The investment is seen as a crucial step in activating the local community and providing modern, accessible sports facilities for generations to come.
