We’ve come a long way – our story so far

In 2017, S. Anselm’s seems a world away from the School created in 1888 by William Storrs Fox.  With modern, well-appointed classrooms, the new library, millennium sports hall with indoor swimming pool, tennis courts and most recently our ®LEGO Innovation Studio offering state of the art design, coding and programming, these facilities would have been unimaginable to the initial aspiration of its founder in late 19th century rural Derbyshire.

Facilities aside, major changes in the last 129 years include:

• creation of a Nursery and Pre-Prep School
• The School becoming coeducational
• acceptance of day pupils and offering flexi-boarding alongside full boarding
• introduction of the S. Anselm’s College, offering education to GCSE level

S. Anselm’s is more robust and adaptable now than it has ever been – bucking national trends which chart a decline in numbers in children under 13, our boarding goes from strength to strength.

Academic standards are high – all our pupils are dear to us and the traditions and values from 1888 onwards are upheld.  All of the resources the school currently boasts combine with excellent and committed teaching. The calibre of pupils we send out into the world attests to this.

Our children need a level playing field

Whilst it is natural to celebrate all that we have achieved, we must be ready for the future developments and indeed embrace them.  The next step for this exceptional school is the creation of a multi-sport all-weather playing surface, enabling our pupils to compete at the highest possible standards during their time with us. 

For those who have experienced a Derbyshire winter, you will be well aware that adverse weather conditions are unavoidable at some point each year! 

The need for excellent sports facilities cannot be ignored however, no amount of excellent coaching, dedication and commitment can make up for that.

S. Anselm’s needs an Astro Turf playing surface. Dedicated games staff, with their commitment, ensures that our teams achieve great success. However, when our hockey and football teams play at other schools that have on-site access to all-weather surfaces to practice on, we are in the uncomfortable and unwelcome position of not being able to compete – quite literally – ‘on a level playing field’.

S. Anselm’s is one of the finest schools in the North of England. We wish to ensure we stay at the top and provide a positive playing experience for all our children.  An Astro is an integral part of the all round excellent education provided.

The detail of the plan

Our aim is to provide a multi-sport playing surface, with can facilitate a host of sports and activities.  We want to use this Astro for boys and girls hockey, football, cricket, tennis and rounders.

The pitch will be approximately 95m long x 60m wide incorporating a state of the art sand dressed artificial grass surface.  It will be located on Bottom Field behind the Sports hall.  It will be fenced all the way round with low fencing on the boundary bordering Top Field to incorporate a spectator area.

The pitch is highly versatile and will be permanently marked out for various options – these include a full size hockey pitch, or 2 smaller hockey pitches, or 3 five-a-side football pitches, or 9 tennis courts or 2 rounders pitches.

The advantages of Astro

This Astro facility will enable us to:

• compete at the highest level of school sport
• be less reliant on the weather conditions
• enable children of all ages to play – from nursery age ‘KwikStiks’ hockey upwards
• host a number of sporting fixtures
• develop sporting excellence and give all our pupils the very best opportunity to succeed.

What will it cost?

Through fundraising and donations from a few parents so far, the school has already raised approximately £250,000.  The total cost for the project is £550,000.  The difference of £300,000 needs to be raised to turn the vision into reality.  Although loan finance is being considered all the funding will ultimately have to come from donations.