Sport for all is the aim of a school which has just become the second in the district to be awarded specialist sports college status.

The successful bid by Thornton Grammar School is designed not only for its own sporting stars, but for all pupils, community sports groups and partner schools.

The Government-awarded status will mean £150,000 for the school to build a new floodlit, hard-surface, games area, for sports like tennis and netball.

There will also be an annual £100,000 for the next four years, part of which is being used to employ a dance teacher. The school's strategy is to broaden out sport to include all forms of physical activity and all pupils.

Head teacher John Weir said: "Not every child is good at hockey or football we are also bringing in dancing, drama and outdoor pursuits."

The school also plans to develop its sporting tradition to:

l improve physical fitness among young people

l counter underachievement among boys - a national problem, reflected at the school

l build links with other schools and community groups by sharing expertise and facilities

l improve standards throughout the curriculum

The extra money will be used to provide outside tuition to the school's top pupils. But by expanding activities such as its Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, staff are determined that it will cater for everyone.

Sixth former Lee Smith said: "Future pupils are going to reap the benefits of this. It is going to be brilliant with all the facilities they are going to have. They are going to have a lot of fun which is what sport is all about - having fun while learning."

Staff have been preparing for the bid since last summer. They have had to detail exactly what will be done with the money and raise £50,000 in sponsorship.

The only other sports college in the district is Oakbank School, Keighley.

e-mail: william.stewart@

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