School to review future of Wellingborough leisure centre

With an increase in student numbers, the school is reviewing its accommodation and the use of its facilities
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The future of Weavers Leisure Centre is being reviewed as the school which runs it looks to grow and build on recent successes.

Weavers Academy in Wellingborough runs the leisure centre as a community facility and more than 40 groups use it for various sports including badminton, boxing and gymnastics.

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But exam success and a good Ofsted rating has led to an increase in student numbers so the school in Brickhill Road is looking at how to accommodate this.

As part of the review, they will be looking at whether community groups can use the leisure centre for sports after August 31 this year.

Associate principal Rob Ridout said: "In recent years, exam results at Weavers Academy have risen rapidly so they now exceed national levels and it is judged to be a good school.

"As the school’s reputation has improved and it has become increasingly successful the numbers of students attending the school have increased since 2015.

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"The school has wanted to meet both the needs of its students and continue to support the community’s use of its leisure facilities.

Weavers Leisure Centre is run by the school as a community facilityWeavers Leisure Centre is run by the school as a community facility
Weavers Leisure Centre is run by the school as a community facility

"Additional classrooms have been built within the existing building to accommodate and meet the educational needs of the extra young people.

"Unfortunately, this has led to the loss of the larger spaces used for examinations and other events and the necessary increased use of the sports hall to accommodate these activities and the teaching of additional groups.

"Weavers Academy is expecting to grow further in the next few years.

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"Consequently, the school plans to review the school’s accommodation and the use of its facilities but always placing the education needs of our students first.

"As part of the review we will be looking at all activities including the use of the leisure centre by community groups for sports from August 31, 2020."

Weavers Academy is part of the Creative Education Trust and its most recent Ofsted report from May 2017 said it had 1,140 on the school roll aged between 11 and 18.

Anyone who would like to comment or discuss the leisure centre can call the school on 01933 222830 or contact the associate principal Mr Ridout by email on [email protected]

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Wellingborough has two other leisure centres, which are the council-owned Waendel and Redwell leisure centres.

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