20th September 2024
Today St Brendan’s Sixth Form College in Brislington celebrated the start of an exciting chapter with the grand opening of their new Sports Pavilion. This state-of-the-art facility includes a floodlit 3G football and rugby pitch, and outdoor tennis and netball courts, providing a platform for their students and everyone in the local South Bristol community to fulfil their potential and access the transformative power of sport.
This project has been years in the making and the collective efforts of many teams including College Staff, the Clifton Diocese and Oakland Construction to name a few. The journey towards revitalising the sports facilities at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College began in November 2018. After phase 1 was completed in November 2022, the groundwork was laid for this ambitious project.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of their partners at Oakland, they were able to bring their vision to life. A special mention must also go to the Clifton Diocese, whose extraordinary donation made a substantial difference in ensuring this project moved forward. Their support, grounded in the Catholic values of service and community, has been instrumental in fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive. This collaboration demonstrates the power of unity and shared purpose, bringing together the College, sponsors, and the wider community to support the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of their students and local residents.
With the new Sports Pavilion and existing county-standard Sports Hall and gym, the College are poised to restore St Brendan’s Sixth Form College as a hub for sporting excellence. Today they welcomed back a former student, Olly Kohn, to open the new Sports Pavilion. Olly attended at St Brendan’s from 1997 to 1999, studying Business Studies, Art & Design, Theatre Studies and Psychology.
Olly and Keith reunited after 20+ years
When he joined the College, he had no desire to pursue sport, but his teacher Keith Gee recognised his raw talent and encouraged him to realise his potential. With this guidance and inspiration, Olly went on to enjoy a very successful career with Bristol Bears, Harlequins (2012 English Premiership Winners) and Wales (2013 Six Nations Winners).
Olly and Marian - moments before the ribbon cutting!
Principal Marian Curran commented on the event, “Today we reflect on an incredible journey that is not just about bricks, pitches and planning permissions, but about people, potential, and progress. We are fortunate to have dedicated sports coaches who are actively nurturing and encouraging our students' talents. With their guidance and our facilities, we are confident that St Brendan’s will soon be on the path to producing national and international sports players once again—continuing the proud tradition of excellence that has defined us for so long.”
