Rugby Flourishing in Manchester Health Academy
Among the CBRE All Schools pioneers, Manchester Health Academy in Wythenshawe opened in September 2010...
...in an area where historically the main sports have been football and boxing.
Graded by Ofsted as a good school with outstanding features, their main sponsors are Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester City Council.
Since the start of the All Schools programme, progress has been impressive. They have bolstered their PE staff with rugby qualified coaches and players and installed a 4g RFU compliant pitch at the school’s expense, using it to host games with local schools and associated festivals.
The standard of rugby has improved dramatically, teams of boys and girls winning local competitions and emerging schools competitions. Last year the boys teams went on tour to the Ospreys Challenge Festival in South Wales and the girls to the Lake District.
“This academic year they are testing themselves further by taking on two local rugby playing private schools,” said RFU Rugby Development Officer, Phil Clarke.
"The All Schools Project has been a fantastic pathway for both our boys and girls,” added Head of PE, Stewart Brown. “At the start the programme, we didn’t have any students playing club rugby. This season we have both boys and girls playing at our local club Wythenshawe, Broughton Park and Sale FC. We also have students representing Lancashire and students have become part of the Sale Sharks Development Programme.”
Year 11 student Ben Flanagan-Sita said: "When I started at Manchester Health Academy in 2015 I’d never played rugby. As soon as I beganplaying, I loved it and enjoyed the opportunity to channel my aggression in a positive way. All Schools has been a fantastic pathway for our boys and girls. From having no students playing club rugby we’ve now got boys and girls enjoying rugby at local clubs as well as representing Lancashire and joining the Sale Sharks Development Programme.
Ellise Brailsford from Year 9 added: "Experiencing rugby for the first time at MHA helped me to find a sport I enjoyed and was good at. Last year I joined Broughton Park which has helped me to build my confidence and meet new people and become great friends with many who attend different schools and in other parts of Manchester. This confidence has helped with my academic subjects too."
Now, with rugby union firmly embedded in the school curriculum for boys and girls, and they are hoping to become the school of choice for rugby players in South Manchester.
