I LOVE Club Cheadle Hulme at Cheadle Hulme High School

5 Dec 2016

Club Cheadle Hulme is brand new and simply fabulous. What used to be a rather tired school sports hall and Life Leisure facility is completely transformed – and not just as a building, but as an ethos and way of life.

I Love Cheadle Hulme was thrilled to be invited to the official launch of Club Cheadle Hulme on Thursday 1 December. It was clear great things had been achieved. Once through the front doors we were treated to a glass of fizz and beautiful canapes, before being shown around by Sports Centre Director, Rob Clare, who many will remember from his playing days with Stockport County. Rob is rightly proud of what’s been achieved here and that positively shines from him as he talks about the development.

L to R Andrew Law, Tilly Fox (Head Girl), Paul Dickov, George Balderson (Head Boy) Photo thanks to Brand Reputation Management

The state-of-the-art new facilities include a gym, the refurbishment of the sports hall (including a new sprung floor), new lighting and temperature controls and a stunning new climbing wall. Ex-pupils such as myself will no doubt remember the old one! The changing rooms have also been dragged into the 21^st century. The sports centre will be available to the community out of school hours

This £1,000,000 upgrade – phase one of a proposed £5,000,000 project – has been made possible by past pupil Andrew Law, of the Law Family Educational Trust, part of the Law Family Charitable Foundation. The Foundation was set up in 2011 to support the Laurus Trust – the multi-academy trust with Cheadle Hulme High at its very heart.

Club Cheadle Hulme

“Our aim is to inspire students from all backgrounds to build their personal confidence, find their voice, and aspire to great success in their chosen fields, explained Andrew.

“This will be enabled through access to both outstanding education and best of class co-curricular activities including performing arts, sports programmes, debating and entrepreneurship.”

Andrew also rightly pointed out that money IS needed in sport. Compare our recent successful Olympic endeavours with those in Atlanta, when Team GB came home with just one gold medal. This follows heavy investment in sport by governments. It’s a sad fact that around 80% of top professionals and sportspeople come from a private school background – and yet about 90% of children are state educated.

Cheadle Hulme High School, (Outstanding in its latest Ofsted inspection, and now ranked in the top ten most sought-after schools in Greater Manchester) was delighted when former Manchester City player, Paul Dickov, joined LFET as Sports Ambassador working at school.

“It’s wonderful to see children at a state school being given such excellent opportunities normally afforded by private education”, commented Paul.

“For me it’s about creating awareness and a love of sport for all, encouraging those who may feel intimidated or embarrassed about participating – and not just football, but a whole host of other sporting opportunities on offer here at the school.

“I’m also part of the Manchester City media team, which means students have access to media and marketing, useful in today’s world.”

Paul Dickov Q&A with CHHS pupils

Linda Magrath, CEO and Head of Cheadle Hulme High School, added:

“Everybody here is excited to be opening Club Cheadle Hulme. It’s fantastic to have these wonderful facilities which will benefit the whole community as well as our students and staff.

“Up until now our facilities here at CHHS have been amongst the worst in the Borough – we now have the best. LFET’s support will not only help our students develop their sporting skills but also enable them to try new sports such as climbing and trampolining. We cannot thank Andrew enough.”

The next phase of the work – including a 3g football and rugby pitch – is planned to start in February 2017. A new hockey pitch is also in the pipeline.

It was fantastic to see the new facilities and future plans. It was also lovely to speak with Paul Dickov – hero to City fans everywhere – and hear his passion for sport (and also Manchester City, which he’s passed on to his three children). His advice to everyone is simply to work as hard as you can, and to be the very best at whatever you do – not just sport. CHHS pupil (and City fan) Liam Gartside asked ‘who’s the better player – you or Sergio Aguero?’ Paul thought – just for a second – and answered ‘Sergio. But only just’. Many of us would agree, if only on history, but what a brilliant role model for the students of CHHS – and in time, the wider Laurus Trust.