School faces Army kit criticism

The NUT said the Army was exploiting its position

A school in Leicester is at the centre of a controversy after accepting sports equipment from the Army.

The tennis team at Lancaster Boys' School, which reached the national finals this year, was given new kits and racquets.

But a teachers' unions felt the donation was just a ploy to boost recruitment for the armed forces.

The Army says it only visits schools when invited, and aims only to raise awareness and not to recruit.

'No deal'

Peter Flack, from the National Union of Teachers, said: "They have access to facilities that schools don't have, which are paid for by the taxpayer, which they are then exploiting to get themselves a privileged track into schools.

"We don't think that's reasonable, we don't think that's fair."

The Army is one of 20 organisations that has links with Lancaster Boys' School through Leicestershire's education business partnership.

The school's head teacher Paul Craven said there were no deals with the Army.

"What this is about is the boys who have expressed an interest in the armed forces being given an opportunity to speak directly with representatives from the organisation," he said.

The Army will also be providing a climbing tower for the school's sports day later this term.