Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Birmingham has become the 150th school in the country to partner with an organisation that opens up school facilities for community use.

The grammar school on Lichfield Road has joined forces with School Lettings Solutions (SLS) to become a community leisure venue on evenings and weekends, playing host to activities, such as fitness classes and football and cricket matches.

SLS is one of the fastest growing sport and leisure companies in the country, matching schools that are looking to generate income with community groups that need quality, affordable venues.

Thanks to this new venture, Birmingham-based groups will be able to hire the school’s floodlit astro turf pitch, dance and art studios, IT suites, conference facilities, outdoor cricket centre and multi-use sports hall for regular classes and ad hoc events.

Dominic Robson, headteacher of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, said: “At a time when school budgets are under pressure like never before, it is incumbent on leadership teams to explore every possible opportunity to increase revenue. By working with SLS, we are able to rent out our unused facilities, which will create positive spaces for the local community to take part in fun activities.”

Entrepreneurs Paul Andrews and Scott Warrington founded SLS in 2011 and now employ over 400 staff. The organisation works in partnership with schools across the country to improve access to high quality facilities for over 7,000 sports clubs, performing arts groups and community organisations.

Director of School Letting Solutions, Scott Warrington, said: “We are overjoyed to welcome Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School as our 150th partnership. This is a major milestone for SLS and we are confident that, with the school’s fantastic facilities, it will be busy on evenings and weekends, with local residents taking part in a range of activities.

“As more schools, colleges and academies across the country are facing greater cuts to their funding, we hope to partner with more schools in the Midlands to help them to increase their revenue during these testing times. At the same time, local communities will gain access to first class facilities that are supported by experienced staff who meet the highest standards in child safeguarding.

“At SLS we are firm believers that children and adults alike should have access to local run activities that allow them to reach their full potential and can help with both their physical and mental health. That is why we are continually developing partnerships with schools across the country to help improve the access local communities have to first class facilities.”