COPLESTON High School is today celebrating after it was awarded nearly £80,000 to develop sporting activities in the community.The cash boost will help improve pupils' attitudes towards PE and provide more opportunities for them to take part in sport outside school hours.

COPLESTON High School is today celebrating after it was awarded nearly £80,000 to develop sporting activities in the community.

The cash boost will help improve pupils' attitudes towards PE and provide more opportunities for them to take part in sport outside school hours.

The school will work with primary and secondary schools to develop their lunchtime activities through the training of staff and Year 6 pupils so they can better supervise sports.

The flagship programme will also provide equipment for activities such as basketball, hockey, archery and karate, with the aim of getting 75 per cent of pupils doing two hours of PE a week.

Rob Terry, school sports co-ordinator, said: "Being awarded this level of funding for the development of sporting opportunities is a significant step to ensuring the youth of Ipswich can have every opportunity to participate in School Sport and PE, regardless of their backgrounds.

"Both staff and students will benefit from the investment through the provision of coaching, support and training, ensuring a sustainable foundation from which to build."

The funding is part of a UK-wide investment programme by the Big Lottery Fund - which hands out National Lottery money to good causes - to motivate young people through exercise.

More than £800,000 has been injected into the East of England to fund ten School Sports Co-ordinator partnerships, of which Copleston is one.

It will particularly benefit children who may need encouragement to participate, including pupils in danger of exclusion from school and those with special needs.

Copleston, which gained sports college status three years ago, received £75,852 for the project.

Sara Betsworth, the Fund's East of England regional manager, said: "This funding will create genuine opportunities for young people to engage in a tremendous range of worthwhile activities.

"The ability to set and achieve your own personal goals builds confidence and self-esteem in young people and also brings wider health and attainment benefits."

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