Work has officially begun on a new £150,000 sports complex at St Gerard’s School in Bangor, North Wales, set to elevate the institution’s physical education offering. The development, which will be completed by March 2025, features a state-of-the-art multi-use games area (MUGA) on the school’s seven-acre Ffriddoedd Road site.
The new facility will include a next-generation artificial grass pitch, changing rooms, toilet block, and parking spaces, along with upgraded fencing and landscaping. Subject to planning permission, floodlights may also be added to extend the use of the facility into the evening.
St Gerard’s, a top 10 independent school in Wales renowned for its academic achievements, is investing heavily in its infrastructure to maintain its strong reputation for excellence in education. It consistently ranks among the best in the country for A-level and GCSE results and was recently named eighth in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide.
Steve Griffiths, the school’s Business Manager, expressed his enthusiasm about the new facility, highlighting how the MUGA will significantly improve the school’s physical education provision. “The ‘next generation’ pitch will be top of the range, making it one of the best outdoor sporting surfaces in the region,” he said. “We are excited to see the completed project and anticipate it will become a valuable resource for the school and the wider community.”
The MUGA will be versatile, capable of accommodating a variety of sports, including five-a-side football, netball, hockey, tennis, and basketball. It will feature two courts for netball or basketball, along with a seven-a-side football pitch. The new facility will also offer the school the potential to generate extra revenue, with a high demand for such sporting spaces in North West Wales.
The construction of the MUGA follows several other major improvements at the school. These upgrades include a revamp of the Sixth Form suite, library, car park, and a new heating system worth £150,000. Plans for further improvements are also in the works, all of which demonstrate St Gerard’s commitment to providing the best learning environment for its pupils.
Headteacher Campbell Harrison added that the redevelopment of the sports facilities is just one part of a broader strategy to enhance the school’s footprint in the centre of Bangor. “Our investment programme is testament to our dedication to students, their families, and the wider community. We are continuing to raise the bar as the largest and most academically successful independent school in Gwynedd and Anglesey,” he said.
With an increase in student enrolment of 16% in 2024, the school is in a strong position to continue growing despite the challenges facing the private education sector. The MUGA will be a key asset in supporting the school’s ongoing success and providing students with even more opportunities to excel in both academics and sports.
