YOUNGSTERS at a failing Blackburn school could be in line for beauty sessions or football coaching under a pioneering scheme to raise standards.

A special shop for pupils has been opened at Queen's Park Technology College in Shadsworth - which was put into special measures by Ofsted in February - where points count for cash.

It is hoped the Rewards Shop will encourage youngsters to collect points in exchange for top treats on their shopping lists - including coaching from Blackburn Rovers, walkmans and beauty sessions for GCSE-age girls.

Teachers have been told to give out between three and five points every lesson for good work and good behaviour or for helping others.

A lead behaviour professional at the school, which has 600 pupils, suggested the scheme after seeing it work well in places like Oldham and Rochdale which have also struggled with under achievement.

Headteacher Ian Bott, who took over last September, said: "We have always rewarded pupils with praise and merit points for the things they do well, whether it is a good piece of work, being helpful to people in school or improving themselves in some way.

"Putting in the shop just makes the end result more meaningful to pupils and acts as an extra motivation."

The shop will stock smaller items like pens and wallets but will also entice pupils to stretch their attainment and good behaviour with the best items, funded from school funds.

Mr Bott added: "Our lead behaviour professional Stephen Taylor has been to a number of schools to look at best practice and saw that this actually works. We want to extend the basic idea to include really good items like coaching and hair dressing so that students will really push their collection of points.

"We want to reward the overall package of a child and their commitment including their academic behaviour, but most importantly their citizenship, be it peer mentoring, after school council or acts in the community.

"This is one of several initiatives being used to encourage hard work including a school trips and sessions at Pleckgate's City Learning Centre."

l The school would also like a parent to volunteer to run the shop before and after school and anyone interested should contact 01254 505700.