Welcome to our new Strength and Conditioning Suite

As Watson’s is announced as an Independent Schools of the Year Awards Sports Finalist, Mike Leonard, Director of Physical Education and Sport welcomes pupils to our new Strength and Conditioning Suite.

Today, George Watson’s College was announced as a Finalist in the Independent Schools Awards Sporting Achievement category. This is a category that recognises not just the many successes our school teams young athletes have achieved this year but the whole school approach to sport and the value we place on participation with the resources and staff to to support it.

As I've written previously, at Watson’s, we believe that sport is so much more than a slot on the timetable. It is about sparking a lifelong love of movement, helping young people discover what they enjoy, and even giving them a boost in other areas of learning. From our youngest pupils in Preschool right through to S6, and on into the Galleon or Watsonian Clubs, PE and sport are woven into daily life here. It’s part of what makes our community special, attracting talented staff such as our new Head of Rugby, former Scotland International Ben Cairns, and it’s why we continue to invest in outstanding facilities for every pupil.

This term, as pupils return to the sports they love, we’re thrilled to unveil our latest investment in their wellbeing – a brand-new Strength and Conditioning Suite in the Centre for Sport. Thoughtfully designed to support performance, injury prevention and recovery, it’s a versatile space with free weights, squat racks and platforms, slam balls and sandbags, indoor turf for sled work, and a functional training machine. There are also plenty of bands, rollers and mats for mobility, stretching and recovery. It’s a space that invites every pupil to explore how they can move well and feel strong.

And it’s not just for elite athletes. Strength and conditioning programmes can help pupils of all abilities build resilience, improve balance and mobility, and develop strength that supports everyday life as well as sport. For teenagers, in particular, it can be a real confidence-builder, laying the foundations for long-term health and equipping them to enjoy active lives far beyond their school years.

We can’t wait to see our pupils making the most of this facility – building strength, confidence and enjoyment – and we’re delighted that it will also be a fantastic resource for our Galleon members.