Sports College bid goes ahead (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Sports College bid goes ahead

8:24am Wednesday 12th March 2003 in Sport By Gazette News Desk

Kirkby Stephen Grammar School is in for the bidding to become a Sports College after raising the £40,000 in sponsorship needed to enter the race on Friday.

The official bid was lodged with the Department of Education and Skills by the school on March 7 after a final fund-raising push brought the total amount raised by the local community to £40,0000.

Head teacher David Keetley said: "Thanks to the generosity of a large number of local people and businesses, we reached the £40,000 needed in sponsorship. This is a fantastic achievement for a small community like ours, but it shows that we have a lot of support for our big sporting ambitions."

A Talent Night at the school on March 1 raised £2,000, just seven days before the money had to be in place, to take the bid forward. Now the schools plans to become a Sports College will be looked at by an assessor within the Department of Education and Skills. A shortlist of schools will be drawn up, and if Kirkby Stephen is among the chosen few, it will receive a half-day visit from the assessor. The final decision on who will become a centre of excellence in September 2003 will be made during June or July when the Secretary of State of Education and Skills makes a formal announcement.

A number of local businesses have supported the bid, as well as smaller firms, community organisations and individuals.

Mr Keetley said: "We would like to say a big thank-you to everyone who has helped raise this sponsorship money especially:John Strutt, Tatton-Hewetson, the Cumberland Building Society, the Foundation Governors and Glitsch, Friends of the School, Upper Eden Rotary Club, Barr & Lockhart, Taylor & Braithwaite and the Cumbria Lawn Tennis Association."

The bid-writing team of Andrew Webb, Gary Payton, Mark Bromfield and Janette McWhirter have been working around the clock to complete the very detailed School and Community Plans.

A sponsored coast-to-coast walk and cycle ride should bring in the final

£2,000 in pledged sponsorship, which has been accepted

by the Department of Education and Skills as part of the £40,000.