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Boost to disability sport as school gains Sports College status

19 June 2008

The special school, in Hayes Lane, Swanwick, is the first secondary special school in Derbyshire to be granted specialist status in sport and will now become a Centre of Excellence for Disability Sport in Derbyshire.

There are 70 pupils at The Delves, aged five to 16, who all have special needs.

An all-weather floodlit sports pitch will now be installed for use by students and community groups.

Other benefits will include improved links between schools by sharing facilities and equipment, the widening of the range of sports and courses offered and improving the level of coaching provision.

Staff, parents, pupils, the Friends of Delves group, and local businesses raised £20,000 towards the school’s bid for specialist status.

It unlocked £100,000 of Government funding which will go towards the new all-weather sports pitch.

Headteacher Keith Mckenzie said: “This is a wonderful achievement which would not have been possible without support from the local community, businesses, and everybody at the school.

“It has taken four years of hard work to achieve this. It is great news for the school and for the local community and we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this success.”

Specialist schools develop into centres of excellence in their chosen area – which could be in engineering, languages, science, technology, sports, arts, mathematics, computing or business expertise.

The Government will give the school a cash sum of £100,000; then, for at least four years,  an extra £129 per pupil per year.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for schools, said: “This is great news for pupils at The Delves Community School and Swanwick residents and I’d like to congratulate everyone who has been involved in the bid.

“Gaining specialist status will provide improved facilities and staff will be able to develop and share their expertise particularly within their local community of schools.”