A SECONDARY school has purchased strength and conditioning equipment thanks to donations by parents and friends.

Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School has recently spent £3,000 on the gym equipment thanks to donations raised at fundraising events over several terms.

The equipment includes: top of the range weight training bars and locks, 5kg weight plates and 2.5kg training plates, dumbbells, medicine balls, weight resistance bands and ab mats.

The school now holds weekly strength and conditioning sessions led by Olympic team weight lifting instructor, Charlie Stone, allowing students to build muscle tone and muscular endurance, as well as improve posture and flexibility.

Mike Stubbs, Head of PE at The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School said: "This generous donation has allowed the school to purchase equipment that would have ordinarily been out of our reach and sets us apart from other local schools.

"Use of these types of weights, as part of an expert-led strength and conditioning session, is an integral and important part of any sport from rugby to fencing. I am absolutely delighted that both boys and girls at Bishop’s now have access to this new equipment – thank you to all those that were a part of the fundraising!"