PUPILS leaving Lever Park School in Horwich will be a step ahead of their peers when it comes to getting a job.

The school has been given a £10,000 National Lottery grant to introduce vocational training for pupils at the special school for children with emotional and behavioural issues.

Equipment needed to run the courses, as well as specialised teaching will be purchased with the cash. School counsellor Carole Darbyshire said: "The pupils can sometimes find academic study a struggle and we wanted to introduce a vocational qualification to engage them.

"The pupils here love taking part in practical work and through subjects like this, they will still learn about maths and science and other subjects but they will see how they are applied and understand them more."

Skills such as painting and decorating, tiling, motor mechanics and brick laying will now be taught.

l Friends of Turton Tower received a Lottery grant of £9,200 to run a series of arts events including a pottery exhibition.