Glenalmond invests in new sports facilities £2m spent on programme

A range of new state-of-the-art sports facilities have been built at Glenalmond College as part of a multi-million pound programme of investment for the school.

Almost £2 million pounds of work has been undertaken over the past two years, as part of an ambitious, on-going programme to grow the boarding school.

Among the areas where the school has targeted its funding are two new all-weather astro facilities - amounting to £400,000 - for hockey and tennis, with the water-based AstroTurf pitch built to Olympic standards.

The ambitious programme of investment has also included the construction of other sports facilities, such as a new rugby pitch for the first team and the conversion of a former bothy to the school’s new ‘Woodburn’ facility.

These were officially opened in recent months by a trio of rugby stars including Gavin Hastings and former Glenalmond pupils and Scotland internationals, Rob Wainwright and Ian Morrison.

Warden Hugh Ouston, head of Glenalmond, explained the overall investment has also included a substantial commitment to the school’s infrastructure, including projects to maintain and upgrade its historic buildings.

“It is very important that we continue to invest in the exceptional facilities and grounds we have at Glenalmond,” said Mr Ouston.

“As a school, we aim to combine the very best of traditional education, focused on academic excellence, with a vibrant, modern living and learning space, packed with activities to develop young people.

“The level of investment we have undertaken in recent years is part of a long-term strategy to continue to grow and develop the school to ensure it retains, and strengthens, its reputation for providing an exceptional education for every pupil.”

The astro pitches project are in tandem with a longer-term investment being undertaken in the school’s golf facilities.

This project has seen the creation of a brand new indoor golf facility as part of Glenalmond’s new golf school, ahead of the centenary of the Glenalmond Golf Course next year.

The new facility, which has been funded by former pupils keen to support the school in stepping up its golf offer, hosts two full simulation bays using SKYTRAK and ‘The Golf Club’ simulation software.

The work will also see a new, six-hole putting/chipping green, and is part of a substantial project to increase the school’s profile as “a centre of excellence for golf ”.