Repton unveils major investment in sports facilities

Repton School has announced a major investment in its sports facilities.

The school will create two new full-size floodlit 3G football pitches, a modern multi-use pavilion, expanded parking facilities and four covered padel courts.

The new FA-standard 3G pitches will enable year-round training and competition, supporting both performance and participation across all age groups.

Fully floodlit and built to elite specifications, the surfaces will provide a professional-level environment for football development, fixtures, and tournaments regardless of weather conditions.

The addition of four covered padel courts – one of the fastest-growing sports globally – further strengthens the school’s diverse sporting offer and ensures access throughout the year.

Central to the development is a contemporary pavilion designed to support athletes and visitors with high-quality changing facilities, social and viewing spaces, and flexible areas for coaching, analysis and events.

Expanded on-site parking will improve accessibility for parents, visiting teams, and community users, ensuring the new complex can host large-scale fixtures and programmes with ease.

The facilities are expected to benefit not only Repton pupils but also the wider sporting community, creating new opportunities for partnerships, training camps and player development initiatives.

The school plans to work closely with leading professional clubs and academies, welcoming elite pathways onto campus while also growing grassroots participation and community engagement.

Gareth James, assistant head (co-curricular) and director of sport at Repton School, said: “This is a transformative moment for sport at Repton. Our new facility represents sector-leading provision, giving our pupils access to facilities normally associated with professional environments.

“We are incredibly proud of what this development brings to the school and excited about the opportunity to work with some of the country’s top clubs and academies.

“These partnerships will help create outstanding experiences for our pupils while strengthening pathways for performance, participation and lifelong enjoyment of sport.”

Mark Semmence, headmaster of Repton UK and chief executive of The Repton Group, said: “This investment honours our proud football legacy while creating new opportunities for the future.

“We are building on a history of excellence that has inspired generations – from our England players of the past to recent FA Cup winner Will Hughes.

“This project reflects our ambition to inspire every pupil through opportunity and exceptional facilities, ensuring sport remains central to school life for years to come.”

Due to commence construction this summer, the development has been designed by Matthew Montague Architects – a company which has long been involved in projects at Repton School.

Director Daniel Evans said: “I am incredibly proud that we have secured planning approval for the new 3G pitches and pavilion at Repton School, a project that builds on our relationship spanning decades.

“This will be a transformative addition for the school and the wider community, supporting sport, wellbeing and opportunity for generations to come.”