This is one of the nineteen secondary schools in Cardiff that each received sponsorship of Indoor Rowers from The Steve Redgrave Trust in the last school year. Not wasting any time, the staff team in the PE and Sport Department have integrated their five Indoor Rowers into the busy programme of activities. They have regular Rowing in the curriculum and it’s also included in the out of hour’s club schedule. Several staff have tried the sport and are now regular rowers.

Then, to expand the testing of every pupil from years 7 to 13 in the school of 950 children they’ve used the Indoor Rowers. So in addition to the Bleep Test and the 12 minute Cooper Run for reaction, agility and the aerobic profile they’ve added a 300 metre timed Row to measure endurance. The testing is completed for everyone at the start of each term and this biodata goes towards the fitness records of each pupil as they progress through the school (helping to identify anyone who’d need extra support) and also it’ll provide evidence for the healthy school Ofsted assessment.

Further innovation came in July, towards the end of term when staff organised a Sponsored Fundraising Event using the Indoor Rowers. They planned a trip for 40 pupils from years 9 and 10 to support their national side in the World Cup Rugby series in Nantes, on September 29th when Wales play Fiji. They raised over £2,000 to help subsidise the expenses. The Event took three hours and was based on five team boats rowing the 21 mile distance across the English Channel from England to France. There were eight to each machine in two groups of four.

Steve Redgrave donated the equipment and opened the door wide to opportunity. Staff and pupils have chosen to make the best of these chances and it’s amazing that within a year the Indoor Rowers have enhanced activity throughout and made significant and lasting changes to the health of the whole school.