Scuba-diving and free McDonald's meals are among rewards on offer for hard-working pupils at a Bradford school.

Youngsters at Undercliffe Middle School can also enjoy free golf or music tuition, a make-up session, a spell on the PlayStation - or even an extra lesson of their choice!

The scheme has been designed to reward students aged from nine to 13 for hard work, good behaviour or making an extra effort.

Like the rest of the district's middle schools, Undercliffe Middle on Cliffe Road will close in July and deputy head teacher Val Cattrell said the school was determined that this last year would be the best ever.

She and fellow teacher Claire Widdowson, head of Year Seven, designed the scheme as part of their goal.

They approached businesses with their idea - and came back with offers of free scuba-diving lessons from Duck 'n' Dive in Shipley, meal vouchers from McDonalds, free bowling sessions at Go Bowling in Shipley, IMAX tickets from the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, free swim sessions at Richard Dunn sports centre, trips around Bradford City football ground and free skating at Bradford Ice Rink.

And teachers have given up their time to offer music sessions and even a golf lesson.

Mrs Cattrell said: "The children think it's great. They get a voucher for each 25 house points and they can either spend it straight away, with a free can of Coke or school meal, or can save the points until they have 100 for a bigger treat.

"I've taken some children to McDonald's this lunchtime. And four girls, aged 11 and 12, who would never have gone scuba diving in a million years, went and loved it."

Mrs Cattrell said staff at the school council listened to pupils' suggestions of the things they would like as rewards for great work and behaviour. "The idea for make-up makeovers came from there," she said.

"It's all about effort and doing their best."

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