Swimmers and fitness fiends in Cardiff are set to benefit from another extreme makeover as Fitzalan High School’s facilities get a £300,000 revamp.

The Peter Perkin’s Swimming Pool, named in memory of the former chair of governors, has officially opened its doors and not just to the pupils. Members of the community are also being encouraged to take advantage of the facilities on their doorstep - once the bell rings at the end of the school day.

As well as the 20m swimming pool, the joint venture between the Sports Council for Wales, Cardiff Council’s Active Communities team and Fitzalan High School has also transformed a disused classroom into a fitness suite and multi-gym facility, in a bid to provide physical activity opportunities to a multi cultural student population in excess of 1500 people, engage with disaffected young people from the area, encourage Black and Ethnic Minority Communties and the older generation to use the fitness facilities and increase the swimming opportunities for disability groups.

The fitness suite and multi-gym boasts equipment such as treadmills, cross trainers, exercise bikes and a free weights area.

Mrs Bradshaw, Head teacher at Fitzalan High School, comments on the benefits of the new facilities,

"The opening of the new swimming pool is an important event for the school. Not only will it provide a valuable resource for pupils of the school, but pupils from local primary schools and groups from the local community can also benefit from the refurbishment. The new facility will also support the 5x60 programme within the school and will allow for an increased range of activities to be run such as Kayaking and water polo."

5x60 is the Welsh Assembly Government programme – managed by the Sports Council for Wales and run locally by Cardiff County Council – which aims to get secondary school children not engaged in sport and physical recreation more active, more often.

Since the launch of the scheme in Fitzalan High School in September 2007, over 940 boys and girls have participated in 5x60 extracurricular activities including football, hockey and less traditional activities such as street dance and baseball.

A host of guests, including the Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Kate Lloyd, and the Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling, were in attendance to witness the official opening of this latest addition to Cardiff’s sporting landscape.

Philip Carling, comments on the £100,000 National Lottery investment from Sports Council for Wales:

"This development will be of enormous benefit to the local community and the city as a whole. All young people should have the opportunity to swim and I’m confident that having a new facility on their doorstep will motivate both young and old.

"The Peter Perkin’s Swimming Pool is the latest in a long line of projects that have been developed across the city and we must continue to work together with Cardiff County Council and Sport Cardiff and maximise the potential of the city to create a healthier nation."

The last three years have seen a sporting overhaul at Fitzalan High School with the £1.25m Gôl Centre, Wales’ first purpose-built football facility, kicking off just across the road in January 2006, closely followed by their NoF funded three-court sports hall and changing facilities in October 2006 and an 8x7m indoor climbing wall also included.

For more information on using the facilities at Fitzalan High School please contact the school on 029 2023 2850.