GIVING young people a sporting chance!

That's Broad Oak High School which is celebrating after achieving specialist sports college status.

The Hazel Avenue school will receive around £500,000 over the next four years to benefit not just pupils, but the community too.

The cash will fund improvements to amenities within Broad Oak and support the development of PE and sports to provide a range of opportunities for young people.

Head teacher Mr Andrew Mackenzie explained the funding: "Two thirds will go towards meeting the school development plan for our sports college and the remaining third will go towards our community development plan."

A total of £150,000 is earmarked for improvements to the changing rooms.

Mr Mackenzie said: "We want to move towards a position where the school will be open in the evenings, weekends and the holidays for structured sports activities involving local people."

Some of the cash will buy a good quality artificial cricket wicket. And Broad Oak will also be working closely to involve its partner schools in the ambitious project.

Mr Mackenzie added: "We will be looking to increase and extend opportunities for young people who can get involved with a range of sports. We have already changed our curriculum this year and introduced GCSE dance, which is a key part of PE, and we also plan a lot more out-of-hours activities.

"The emphasis will be very much on participation. We are not trying to breed Olympic champions but to get a lot more people involved. But it's not all about PE and sports. We want youngsters to go for personal bests in all aspects of school life".

Vice chairman of the governors, Laurie Bullas said: "The governors are very pleased and excited by this excellent news. Broad Oak is well placed to make an even greater difference to the community it serves."

Raising £50,000 in sponsorship was a potential obstacle to the school's bid. But local companies actively supported the school, as did pupils, staff, parents and governors through numerous fund-raising activities, including a dinner at the Village Hotel and a sponsored "It's a Knockout" event at the school.

Mr Mackenzie even took to his canoe to complete a 50-mile sponsored paddle to raise funds, has expressed his gratitude to all those who helped make the school's aspirations a reality.