FIFTEEN schools across the borough are sharing in a £419,815 windfall.

The cash will enable pupils to benefit from a wide range of out of school activities, ranging from homework and revision clubs to cultural and arts activities as well as outdoor pursuits and sports.

The money, spread over the next three years, has been made available from the New Opportunities Fund.

Bury's success follows a detailed bid put together by the Local Education Authority and submitted in February of this year.

Bury Council's executive member for lifelong learning, Councillor Stephen Perkins, said: "We are always on the look out for ways to further improve the funding for our schools and we are extremely pleased to be one of just 17 schemes from across the North West to be selected for the Lottery funding via its Out of School Hours Learning programme. "This award will bring benefits to hundreds of our pupils across the borough ranging from primary to secondary and special schools."

The projects to be supported are all aimed at developing basic skills, including ICT, character building and developing confidence through a range of exciting and innovative activities, including outdoor pursuits and sports.

All the activities will take place outside of the normal school day and their purpose is to improve young people's motivation, build on their self esteem and also help them to become more effective learners.

Coun Perkins said: "We believe it will play a part in helping to further raise the already high levels of achievement that we are seeing here in Bury."

The schools to benefit are Chapelfield Primary School, Radcliffe (£10,823); St John's CE Primary School, Radcliffe (£10,940), East Ward Primary School, Bury (£10,926);

Holy Trinity Primary School, Bury (£10,980); St John's CE Primary School, Bury (£10,895); St Paul's CE Primary School, Bury (£11,111); Whitefield Community Primary School (£10,952); Broad Oak High School, Bury (£43,420); Bury CE High School, Bury (£42,547); Derby High School, Bury (£42,369); St Gabriel's RC High School, Bury (£41,634); St Monica's RC High, Prestwich (£43,995); Woodhey High School, Ramsbottom (£42,746); Millwood Primary Special School, Bury (£17,427); Elms Bank Community High School, Whitefield (£44,595).