Junior Gym opens for Years 7-8 students

Academy head Martin Haywood explains that the new space means all students at the Senior School are catered for in terms of improving their health and fitness.

“We realise the ‘big weights room’ may be an intimidating environment for many younger students,” Mr Haywood says.

“This initiative will help give the younger boys the confidence and ability to then be able to progress to the Weights room.”

He said that the Academy had responded to a genuine need they had observed in the younger year groups.

“I have noticed a genuine shift in culture in recent years with our students wanting to go to the gym and remain fit and healthy at times that do not clash with their regular sport training.”

Knox’s Head of Athletic Development, Oliver Scott, says the space was designed to be creative and playful, and encourage students to explore their physicality.

“The idea is to provide a safe space to challenge yourself without the preconceived ideas about what a gym is and what you do in it,” Mr Scott says.

“This facility also allows students to build skills and in future, transition into the existing gym with a broad level of skills and confidence in their movement.”

The facility is open to Years 7-8 students at lunch and after school and the boys are also welcome to make use of the gym if their PDHPE class, Period 7, after School or Saturday sport uses the space.

It is always staffed by experienced instructors and offers a wide range of equipment, including:

• Multi-purpose surface sports flooring
• Climbing and throwing peg wall
• Solid infinity training wall
• Multi-use lifting stations
• Moveable rail boxing bags
• Ceiling mounted monkey bars
• Mixed use free weights
• Dynamic throwing balls
• Ski-erg
• Dynamic rower
• Slack lines
• Balance beam
• Olympic rings
• Suspension training
• Multi jump boxes
• Multi resistance bands