Gyms are becoming an increasingly common sight in Australian schools, particularly large and private institutions.

They encourage physical activity, promote general health, and help to combat childhood obesity. With physical education (PE) a compulsory part of the Australian curriculum, they help a school meet their requirements. They can give a school a leg-up in terms of their competitive sports programs, help you boost enrolments, and can be great for community engagement.

All these reasons and more are why many modern institutions – public and private, primary, secondary and tertiary – are investing in high-quality school gym fitouts.

At GymQuip we’ve spent three decades delivering commercial gym fitouts for schools. In this guide we’ll walk you through the key steps of this process: how to budget for your school sports facility, the ins and outs of school gym design, and the must-have gym equipment for schools.


Understanding the needs of a school gym fitout

School gym fitouts represent a distinctive challenge, as these facilities bring a few unique needs:

  • Catering to a diverse user base: Depending on your school, the gym will need to be safely used by everyone from primary school students to elite school sports teams.
  • Multi-purpose use: For many schools, the gym will need to be capable of hosting general PE classes, specialised sports training, extracurricular activities and potentially community events.
  • Durability and safety: Gym safety is absolutely paramount when the users are young and inexperienced. The gym equipment should also be robust and built to last, while also being able to withstand high usage.

 

Key considerations when designing a school gym

Given the needs and challenges above, what factors do you need to consider in your school gym design? Particular attention should be paid to:

  • Space planning and layout: You should allocate separate areas for different types of exercise, including cardio, strength training and functional workouts, while leaving enough open space for group activities and sports drills.
  • Safety and accessibility: There are a few simple ways to make your school gym safer. Choose non-slip, impact-resistant flooring. Leave plenty of open space around each machine. And once operational, limit student-to-teacher ratios and keep a close eye on beginners.
  • Smart equipment selection: Choose a complete range of cardio and strength training equipment. Avoid equipment that brings a potential for injury, particularly weights. If older or more experienced students need access to more challenging equipment, consider placing it in a separate area.
  • Invest in quality equipment: Choose commercial equipment that is built to last and can handle constant use. Establish a maintenance schedule that ensures the equipment lasts longer and continues to function properly.


Must-have equipment for a school gym fitout

The definition of ‘must-have’ equipment will naturally depend on the training needs and preferences of your school.

In terms of specific school fitness equipment, while PE fitness equipment is usually more cardio-based, you might also invest in strength training for students, particularly for elite school sports teams. Functional training for students can also be important.

Examples of must-have equipment for your school gym fitout might include:

  • Cardio equipment: Rowing machines, treadmills and exercise bikes for endurance training. Air bikes, curved treadmills and ski ergs for high-intensity workouts. Cross-trainers and step machines for low impact workouts.
  • Strength training: Free weights like barbell weight sets, dumbbells and weight benches. Pin-loaded and plate-loaded equipment for a more controlled strength workout.
  • Functional training & conditioning: Medicine balls, kettlebells, boxing equipment and resistance bands to add variety to workouts.
  • Recovery equipment: Foam rollers, trigger balls, massage guns, ice baths and saunas to assist with post-workout recovery

 

How smart gym technology is transforming school fitness spaces

While modern PE classes prioritise participation, teamwork and overall health, performance data remains an important consideration when the time comes for teachers to mark their students.

By tracking the progress of each student, a teacher can assess how that student has developed over the course of the year in terms of fitness, skill acquisition and overall health.

Smart gym technology for schools helps with that effort. It helps a teacher to track and assess the development of every student, by logging performance progression over time.

This effort can be made particularly simple when your school invests in the latest and greatest AI-driven fitness equipment, like GymQuip’s exclusive DKN range. This tech is capable of tracking the performance of individual students, as well as:

  • Offering training advice to further enhance performance
  • Adapting levels of resistance in real time, in response to user performance
  • Keeping students engaged and motivated, by offering personalised feedback


Why (and how) schools should invest in a high-quality gym fitout

When a school commits to a high quality gym fitout, the benefits stretch far beyond enhancing student health and performance:

  • Enhanced sports programs: It provides top-tier facilities for training and competition.
  • Multi-purpose use: It can serve as a venue for assemblies, events and school-wide activities.
  • Increased school appeal: It can attract enrolments and strengthen the school’s reputation.
  • Community engagement: It can be shared with local clubs and organisations, fostering stronger ties between the school and the community.

There are a few key ways to ensure you maximise these benefits, from buying premium commercial equipment that lasts, to careful equipment selection and floorplan development.

But perhaps the most effective way to complete a school gym fitout is to get a bit of help from the professionals.

 

GymQuip: school gym fitout specialists

Designing a school gym can be a unique challenge that most in education won’t have faced before. With so many factors to consider and decisions to make, it can be an intimidating prospect. But you don’t have to do it alone.

At GymQuip we boast over three decades of experience in fitting out all manner of commercial gyms, including for a the full spectrum of educational institutions: public, private, primary, secondary and tertiary.

Beginning with a consulting session, we’ll design your floor plan; identify, deliver and install equipment; then provide all the ongoing service and support you need to keep your gym operating perfectly.

Ready to get started on your school gym fitout? Get in touch with our friendly team today.