Abbs Cross School is a state secondary school in Havering, Essex with over 1,000 students. Following an unsuccessful application for lottery funding to develop sports facilities, the school chose to sell off some of the playing fields in order to generate sufficient funds to build a facility.

In 2001, the Bladerunner team (then Body and Mind), worked with the school to establish a feasibility and business plan with Stevenson Partnerships – the building contractors. The cost of the entire project was £3.3 million.

The impressive new facility, which opened in September 2003, is dual use. Students exclusively use the site throughout the school day, and it is open to the paying public from 5pm to 10pm each week day and at weekends.

Facilities
The school boasts one of the best sports facilities in Havering. The Sports and Leisure Centre contains a 25 metre swimming pool, 60-station fitness suite, sports hall and dance studio. A new dedicated group cycling studio has also opened recently.

The PE curriculum makes great use of the facilities for activities such as fitness, swimming, badminton, tennis, rounders, athletics, football, softball and basketball.

The studio has a busy timetable, offering a wide range of classes including circuits, Bodypump, Bodycombat, Pilates, kick boxing, aerobics, step, fitness yoga and Legs Bums and Tums. Spinning classes are also offered in the dedicated studio.

At least five classes a week are offered during the school day, as many children aspire to doing the sort of classes their parents enjoy.

17 different local sports clubs use the facility on a weekly basis, including the four outdoor tennis courts and grass pitches.

With gym facilities that rival any local health clubs and a monthly membership price of only £30 it is little wonder that the number of people wanting to join the club is so high.

Bladerunner provides a ‘sports technician’ on site which ensures that time spent on actual physical activity for the children is maximised as the courts and activity areas are already set up in preparation for any classes. In addition there are four full time staff at the facility, with all the gym team qualified to at least Level 2 on the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs).

Incentives and Marketing of the Gym
Bladerunner dedicates funds to market the facility as there is much competition from other operators in the area. Activity includes radio adverts, leaflet drops, referral campaigns and PR.

Inductions
All new joiners have a health screen and are also offered a full fitness assessment and induction.

The fitness assessment takes 45 minutes and is particularly important if people have never used a gym facility before. Assessments are carried out in a specific assessment room to ensure privacy for members.

These are followed by a full induction, where members are shown all the equipment and a tailor-made programme is created. New members are then reassessed and their programme updated after 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and then every 6 months.