Students at a Worcester secondary school are reaping the benefits of the area’s brand new £4m leisure centre. #

Christopher Whitehead Language College has tied with St. John’s Sports Centre in Worcester, where Year 10 and 11 students are using ZigZag’s innovative interactive equipment as part of their PE lessons and during after school sessions. 

The centre invested in three Sportwalls and 21 dance mats, which have been installed in the centre’s dance studio. 

Becky Jarvis, PE teacher at Christopher Whitehead said:  “The quality of the PE facilities has been transformed due to this new centre.  It’s motivated both the staff and students and we are all extremely pleased with the outcome, which has lead to a very positive start to the term. 

“The ZigZag equipment has definitely been the highlight with the students.  They are using the three Sportwalls and enjoying fun yet physically demanding exercise in their PE lessons.  It is amazing how effective the Sportwalls are and how much work you can get out of the students without them thinking about it being PE!   

“Their team work skills are improving dramatically and the participation rate, particularly with less able groups, is also improving, with less students giving up and stopping exercise.   The less able groups have found their PE lessons transformed and it has improved their motor skills, activity level, social skills, confidence and motivation towards PE too. They all seem to get fully involved and love it, but the staff love it too!”   

The school is now planning extra PE clubs after school using the ZigZag equipment, in addition to the extensive extra curricular PE programme, for those who love activity as well as those that don’t engage with traditional PE. 

As well as local school children, the equipment is being used for children’s parties, holiday activities and play schemes, and St. John’s Sports Centre intends to introduce adult dance mat classes in the near future too.  

Ian Jakeways, Operations Manager of St. Johns Sports centre and Nunnery Wood Sports Complex said:  “We were very impressed with ZigZag from the outset and decided on the Sportwalls and dance mats based on our budget and available space.  So far, the feedback has been excellent.  The school children love using the equipment and we are starting to see bookings for children’s parties come in simply through word of mouth is promotion!”