Case Study: Rye Hills Academy, North Yorkshire
In May 2025, Rye Hills Academy in Redcar officially unveiled its newly refurbished all-weather sports pitch — a project that Notts Sport was proud to help deliver
This £250,000 project, funded through Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s Levelling Up Fund, has transformed the school’s original 2007 pitch into a modern, multi-sport facility that’s ready for action all year round.
The upgraded surface is designed for both hockey and football, offering the school and local community a top-class place to play, train and compete. A vibrant blue surround gives the pitch a real splash of character, and energy-efficient LED floodlighting means games and training sessions can keep going long after the sun sets.
Rye Hills Academy has always been a central part of local life — and it’s also the home of Redcar Hockey Club, which has the only full-sized artificial hockey pitch in Redcar and Cleveland. Thanks to this refurbishment, the club is finally able to return home, reigniting community passion for hockey and providing opportunities for players of all ages.
We worked closely with the North East Learning Trust (which manages the Academy), Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, and Bernhards Sports Surfaces, who handled the installation with their usual expertise and attention to detail.
Andrew Crosby, Estates Director at the North East Learning Trust, summed it up perfectly:
“This project has been a very successful collaboration, and I am delighted that we have been able to give the pitch a new lease of life. The energy-efficient, multi-use pitch allows Rye Hills Academy to offer a brilliant sports facility to its students and the wider community.”
At Notts Sport, we’re passionate about helping schools and communities make the most of their sports facilities. It’s not just about creating great surfaces — it’s about enabling more people to play, train and enjoy sport together. Projects like this show what’s possible when everyone works towards a shared goal.
We’ll continue to support Rye Hills Academy with after-care and maintenance guidance, helping to keep the surface performing at its best for years to come. We can’t wait to see students and local players making the most of this fantastic new space.
