Sports college status would bring a "buzz" to Thurstable School akin to being promoted from the First Division to the Premier League.

Nick Hammond, headteacher at the school in Maypole Road, Tiptree, spoke of the undisputed benefits of gaining specialist school status as efforts to launch their own £50,000 bid for sports college status smashed through the halfway point.

"It will bring a greater awareness of the benefits of sport to our youngsters and the whole community," he said. "There will be greater access to high class sports and coaching facilities."

But it is not just on the sports field that the school would excel. Mr Hammond believes such special status brings improved exam results across the board.

"The figures are stark. Special schools are performing better than equivalent comprehensives," he said. "It is an added attraction to any school. It brings an extra buzz to the place.

"It is like being promoted from the First Division to the Premier League. Everything goes up and you are operating at a different level."

The school has already become affiliated to the Technology Trust and if its bid for sports college status succeeds, it would bring in an extra £120,000 of Government funding a year for the next three years plus a lump sum for capital projects.

By Lisa Cockrell

Reporter's e-mail: lisa_cockrell@thisisessex.co.uk

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