The Queen’s School, Chester, officially launched its brand-new state-of-the-art Astro pitch on Friday 10th October, setting out a clear vision for it to become a first-class sports facility in the heart of the city, one that benefits not only Queen’s girls but the wider Chester community.

Set beneath Chester’s historic Roman Walls, the new professional-grade pitch represents a multi-million-pound investment in sport at the School, benefitting both students and the wider City’s sporting landscape. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by Headmistress Joanne Keville, Chair of Governors Kirsty Whiteley, and the Lord Mayor of Chester, marked the beginning of an ambitious multi-year programme of growth and investment in sport at The Queen’s School.

Former England and Team GB hockey player Hollie Pearne-Webb also attended as a special guest. Best known for scoring the winning penalty in the 2016 Olympic final in Rio de Janeiro, securing Great Britain’s first-ever women’s hockey gold medal, Hollie delivered an inspiring speech on the importance of sport in schools and the lifelong benefits it brings. She spoke passionately about empowering girls to actively pursue sport and highlighted the new facility as a valuable asset to open up more opportunities for girls at Queen’s and across the wider Chester community.

A clear vision for Chester sport

Head Joanne Keville set out a bold ambition for the new facility:

“Our vision is for the Astro to be a first-class sports facility in the heart of the city, not just for the benefit of Queen’s girls, but for Chester as a whole. We want to help more young people engage with sport and an active lifestyle and this is just the start of that journey.”

The Queen’s School has already launched a programme for local primary schools and is partnering with Chester Hockey Club for training and Saturday fixtures, with plans to work with more schools, community initiatives, charities and businesses to further open up access to sport across the region.

Investing in sporting excellence

The new Astro complements the School’s existing facilities – which include tennis and netball courts, a sports hall and a fitness studio – and represents the first phase of a wider programme of investment in sports facilities. The pitch, built with elite-grade Tiger Turf, the same surface used by England Hockey at its national training base, is floodlit to allow year-round use. It launches alongside a new Sports Scholarship Programme, which welcomed its first intake of Sports Scholars this term and kicked off with a webinar on ‘Pathways to Success’ with Dr Tony Strudwick, a leading figure in elite sport.

The Queen’s School has a strong record in hockey, with teams competing nationally and players progressing to county and international level. Its coaching is led by former England international Martine Green and Scotland’s Craig Falconer, bringing elite experience to the pitch.

Martine Green commented:
“This new Astro will completely transform the intensity of our training, and allow us to replicate match conditions, expand fixtures and host events, raising standards across the board.”

Championing wellbeing through sport

The launch coincided with Hello Yellow Day, a national initiative highlighting the importance of young people’s mental health. Joanne Keville emphasised the role of sport in supporting wellbeing:

“An active, healthy lifestyle is about more than fitness. Sport teaches teamwork, builds confidence and supports mental wellness. The Astro is a place where those benefits can be shared with the whole community.”

A milestone moment

With friends of the school and members of Chester’s civic and business community gathered to celebrate, the launch of the Astro pitch was a proud moment for the school. As Queen’s looks to the future, the new facility promises to inspire the next generation of athletes, strengthen community partnerships and reaffirm the school’s commitment to both academic and sporting excellence.