School gets sport hall after 30 years

The sports hall will house four badminton courts

A school in Lancashire is celebrating an £850,000 grant for a sports hall, after 30 years without one.

The cash was secured by Tarleton High School after Lancashire County Council applied for a government basic needs grant.

It is expected the sports centre will be completed by 2004 and be big enough to house four badminton courts.

The news means PE lessons will will no longer have to be taught in the school's main hall.

Council meeting

If further money can be raised for changing rooms, it is hoped the hall will be available for public use.

Since 1973, the number of pupils attending the school has increased as new housing has been developed in the area.

It has led to PE lessons competing for space with drama lessons, assemblies and exams.

A proposal to secure extra funding for changing rooms will be discussed at a meeting of Tarleton Parish Council next week.