A planning application to build a new £4 million swimming pool and dance studio has been submitted by Northampton School for Boys.
The secondary school in Billing Road is hoping to get permission to build a new six-lane, 25 metre swimming pool with a movable floor, as well as a new art-dance studio which will be an extension of the existing fitness suite.
Mike Griffiths, NSB headteacher, who is currently on a sabbatical year to be president of the Association of School and College leaders (ASCL), said the pool would further enhance the top class sports facilities at the school.
Mr Griffiths said: “It will be an up-to-date modern pool and will replace the one we have, which was built in the late 1940s as an outside pool.
“With the new pool we will be able to analyse pupils’ strokes and we will be doing more work to increase strength, flexibility and suppleness.
“We have a programme where we try to get the pupils to develop their skills so they are fitter.
“We want the youngsters who come to us to leave the school in the best possible state and swimming will be a big part of that.”
Mr Griffiths said a movable floor of the swimming pool would allow for games of water polo as the water could be kept at the same depth.
A decision on the planning application is expected to be made in May and the building project is expected to take about 18 months.
The money for the pool is believed to have come from one of the school’s benefactors.
Northampton School for Boys has a reputation as one of the best state schools in the country for sport.
Past pupils include current England rugby international Courtney Lawes, Northampton Saints player Paul Diggin and Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson.
Other notable alumni include Olympic long jumper Stewart Faulkner and tennis player Billy Knight, a French Open quarter finalist in 1959.
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