June 17, 2014 2.15 pm This story is over 117 months old

Lincoln school’s gym tops 500 members in four months

Over 500 members: Branston Community Academy has brought together the local community after opening their Herons gym.
The Herons gym at the Branston Community Academy

Branston Community Academy has brought together the local community after opening their Herons gym in February.

Since opening their gym they have already beaten their target membership numbers within the first four months with 60% of members from outside the school.

The school invested £100,000 into the gym as not only does it promote a healthy lifestyle in the school environment but it also gives students real life work experience as the gym is staffed mainly by students.

Equipment at the Branston Community Academy gym

Equipment at the Branston Community Academy gym

The gym contains new equipment such as running, cycling and rowing machines and also offers personal training sessions and training programmes. It is managed by experienced gym instructor Kareem Mahfouz.

Head teacher Peter Beighton said: “It puts the school at the heart of the local community by offering residents and parents a good facility on their doorstep.

“The school takes its role in the community very seriously and wherever possible we want to ensure we play a part in enhancing local life.

“There is a lot of truth in the old cliche that a healthy person is a happy person and we believe that this facility will definitely contribute to the health and therefore the well being of our students and the wider community.”