A POPULAR Catholic school is hoping to become a winner under Government plans to create a national network of centres for sporting excellence.

St Joseph's in Horwich is bidding to become a sports college in September.

If successful, it will mean more money for new facilities and an extra focus on sport on the timetable.

The Catholic secondary school is expecting to face stiff competition in the race to become one of 60 specialist centres being set up by the Government next year.

But staff are hoping their excellent sporting record, links with local clubs and backing by Bolton education chiefs will help them score vital points.

The school has to raise £100,000 sponsorship towards a capital project, probably tennis courts, by the time it puts in a final bid in June.

Winners will receive a £100,000 Government grant to improve facilities and up to £80,000 per year for extra staff and other expenses. The Government says the colleges will take in sporting heroes from a wide area, but St Joseph's insist they will still be following their normal admissions policy which gives priority to children in Catholic feeder primaries.

A spokesman said: "We already have very good sporting facilities, but this will enable us to enhance those and enhance our staff.

Pulse

"It will not mean very big changes to the curriculum because we already have a reasonable amount of sport on the timetable.

"But we will be able to develop links between sport and other subjects, such as studying pulse and heart rates for biology and technology.

"It is a competitive bid but, if we are successful, it will be good news for the school and good news for the local community."

St Joseph's is having a public meeting at the school at 6.30pm tomorrow night to discuss the bid.

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