LYR News

Redhill is a multi-academy trust that has established itself at the forefront of sporting innovation in state education.Sharing LYR’s belief in the power of sport to transform young lives, Redhill has worked closely with us for over a year to design and prepare a pioneering new rowing programme. In September, this initiative launched across all ten oft he Trust’s secondary academies, alongside its ten primary schools, offering opportunities to a student population of over 13,500 young people.

The scale of the project is significant, with more than 100 rowing machines already in place and more on the way. Each academy has embedded indoor rowing directly into the PE curriculum, supported by land-based and on-water coaching.The Trust’s on-water base is Holme Pierrepont, where a new boat bay and beginner fleet will ensure students have the right facilities to take their first strokes on the water. Nottingham and Union Rowing Club play a key role as partners, providing a pathway for young people who wish to begin competing while the Redhill on-water programme develops.

This first year is focusing on building participation both inside and beyond the curriculum. This includes developing structured teaching and training plans, providing coach education to PE and support staff, and helping each academy to build a co-curricular rowing offer. While competition opportunities will initially run through Nottingham and Union Rowing Club, the vision is clear: to establish Redhill Rowing Club as a Trust-wide entity in the near future.

Over time, the Head Coach will expand the on-water programme, support the recruitment and development of new coaches, and guide the acquisition of a full racing fleet. Once established, all students will have the opportunity to compete proudly under the Redhill name. Within three years, Redhill will take full ownership of the programme from LYR, including the employment of the Head Coach.

This ambitious project, sponsored by the Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust, represents LYR’s flagship multi-academy trust partnership. It provides a model for how rowing can be embedded into education at scale, with the potential to inspire similar partnerships across the country in the years to come.

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