Sports teams at Cheltenham Bournside sixth form have unveiled new sports kit this season, with a new community sponsor to mark the welcome return of competitive sport.

The new kit highlights a renewed focus on sport at the school and sixth form.

Thomas Legal, a law firm specialising in property law, is the new sponsor. Managing director, Simon David, joined headteacher, Steve Jefferies, to officially mark the partnership and unveil the new football, netball and rugby jerseys supplied by Halbro Sportswear Ltd.

Ollie Winterbottom, head of physical education at Cheltenham Bournside School, said: "We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Thomas Legal and to secure them as our new sixth form kit sponsor. It is brilliant to be working with a local business who shares the school's passion for both sport and supporting the community.

"This marks an exciting period of opportunity for sport at Cheltenham Bournside School. We are proud to have a long-standing positive reputation for sport here and offer a full programme of school fixtures in all the major, and many of the minor, sports.

"We are now also able to support ambitious students across all year groups to take their sport to the highest levels with our specialist Athlete Development Programme (ADP), and in the sixth form, students both play for, and help manage, the top teams in the school."

Simon David, managing director of Thomas Legal, said: "I am so pleased that we can support Bournside School this year by sponsoring their sixth form sports teams. As we all know from the pandemic, mental health problems have been on the rise particularly amongst young people and, to my mind, sport is such an essential part of their lives to combat this.

"Sport builds resilience, teamwork and positivity. Whilst I remember my own school days freezing on the rugby pitch in the middle of winter, I also remember that incredible sense of elation when we won a game or scored a try, as well as a great sense of achievement and camaraderie. I wish them all every success over the forthcoming year."

Alex Robinson, year 13 student and rugby captain, said: "I owe much to the Bournside sport department: great facilities, competitive fixture lists and an Athlete Development Programme have allowed me to excel through sport. Brilliant coaching and the support of teammates has helped me grow as a rugby player and be a member of the Gloucester U18s Rugby Academy."

This term, the school has also opened a new fitness suite for strength and conditioning training, alongside a newly upgraded AstroTurf.