Two years ago, on 18th September, we proudly opened the doors to our 1875 Sports Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that has since become a thriving hub of sporting activity and achievement at NGHS. 

The centre was officially opened by former England cricketer Lydia Greenway OBE, whose presence inspired our students to embrace sport with confidence and ambition.

 

Sport Centre opening.

 

Sport for all at NGHS

With its performance fitness suite, yoga and pilates studio, refurbished gymnasium with sprung floor, cricket nets with ECB-level lighting, full-size badminton and netball court, and dance studio, the 1875 Sports Centre provides some of the best indoor facilities in the region. Alongside seven outdoor multi-use courts, it has greatly enhanced our sporting provision and created new opportunities for every student to play, train and compete.

Head, Julie Keller, said: “Health and fitness is at the core of our school’s approach to success. We know that many girls give up sport as they get older, which is why providing an accessible and diverse sports programme, alongside inspirational female role models, is so important in giving girls the confidence they need to keep active for life.”

The centre has already played a vital role in the school’s sporting achievements, with our netball teams reaching the regional finals every year, and our cricket programme thriving thanks to the new facilities. From PE lessons to extracurricular clubs, the 1875 Sports Centre has helped girls of all ages find joy and confidence in sport.

 

 

This focus at NGHS reflects a wider movement across independent schools in the UK,where a cultural shift is breaking down barriers in girls’ sport. With women’s sport attracting record audiences and female athletes excelling at the highest levels, independent schools are leading the way by investing in world-class facilities, diversifying opportunities, and addressing the unique challenges that affect girls’ participation. From tackling stereotypes to supporting health and confidence, the message is clear: sport is for everyone, and girls deserve the same opportunities to thrive, compete and shine.

As we celebrate two years of the 1875 Sports Centre, we celebrate not just a building, but the opportunities it continues to create for every NGHS student to discover, enjoy and achieve in sport, for life.