Head teacher Matt Wilson said the students have been requesting a gym and weights set for some years, with not only the goal of physical exercise but also the chance to earn a professional qualification in personal training as part of their HSC studies.

“A lot of kids have been interested in and asking about setting up a gym at the school for a while now, Mr Wilson said.

“It is not just the sporty kids either, weights are a bit of a novelty for the students and fairly popular across the board.

“It also means that Peel High will be the only school in the region that can offer a VET Certificate III in personal training.

“That qualification alone will enable the students to work either permanently or part time as a trainer when they leave school.”

The school has already enrolled 14 students into the new subject next year, with PE teacher and qualified personal trainer Lisa Panton at the helm.

While those students will add a theoretical element to their training all students will have access to the gym at lunch times, and other set times.

Mr Wilson is also looking to open the gym up on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings before the Breakfast Club, where students enjoy a free meal before class.

While the new gym has been set up in what was an old storage area off the basketball court, the equipment came at a cost of $25,000.

Fortunately the Tamworth Services Club “saw a chance to have a really positive impact on students at Peel High.”

The organisation and the school put in a funding application to head office, who shortly after came back with a cheque for $10,000 to go towards the gym, while the school chipped in the remainder.

Services Club CEO Kristian Brooks said the gym program had instant appeal.

“Busy kids and active kids are good kids,” he said.

“Every year we give money back to the community through the Club Grants Scheme, and after seeing something like this that can get kids active we grabbed hold of it.”