A New Era for Sport at Simon Balle: The Opening of the Elm Sports Centre
Simon Balle All-through School has officially opened its brand-new 700 sqm Elm Sports Centre, a modern facility designed to transform sporting opportunities for both students and the wider community.
The versatile space has been purpose-built to host a wide variety of sports, including cricket, netball, basketball, badminton and football. Not only will it enhance the school’s existing provision, but it will also be available for local clubs and organisations to hire—making it a true community hub for sport.
To celebrate the completion, Co-Headteachers Rachel Kirk and Michael Moss joined staff and students from across all year groups in front of the centre’s striking new reception entrance.
Raising the Game for Students
Head of PE, Ellie Newman, described the centre as far more than just a building:
“This is an exciting opportunity to enhance our PE curriculum, develop extracurricular provision and raise the profile of sport at Simon Balle. Perhaps one day a future Olympian will say it all began right here. We want all our students to enjoy being active, challenge themselves, and have fun. We hope this facility will be a place where they discover new passions, build confidence, and form strong teams.”
A Forever Home for Community Sport
One of the first community clubs to benefit from the facility is the Special Olympics East Herts Chiefs Basketball Club, which provides opportunities for players with intellectual disabilities to train and compete at regional, national and international levels.
Club representative Tracy Fisher shared her excitement:
“We have been established for 14 years and even have Olympic gold medallists in our squad. After moving venues several times, it is wonderful to finally have a permanent home here. The Elm Sports Centre is state-of-the-art, and the quality of the equipment, especially the backboards and hoops, is fantastic. Knowing we have a reliable space will make a huge difference to our players.”
Celebrating the Opening
The Elm Sports Centre officially opened to the public on 1st May, inviting the community to experience the new facility first-hand. The school’s PE Department ran live demonstrations in sports such as trampolining, basketball and badminton, giving visitors a taste of the energy and expertise the centre will support.
Builders R G Carter, Saunders Architects, and school staff were also present, sharing the journey of the centre’s creation—from concept to completion.
With its doors now open, the Elm Sports Centre marks an exciting chapter for Simon Balle and the wider Hertford community. It promises not only to support athletic development but also to inspire a lifelong love of sport in everyone who walks through its doors.
