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Pitching in for school

Katherine Vine
21/12/2007

A PARTINGTON school has been awarded £1 million to build new sports facilities, including a football pitch.

Broadoak High School received grants of £900,000 and £100,000 from the Football Foundation which will be used, along with another £1 million raised by the school, to construct an artificial grass pitch and changing room. It will also pay for a member of staff specialising in football.

Headteacher Tarun Kapur said the school is very pleased to have been successful in getting the grant. He said: “We worked very hard to pull it all together, including raising £1 million ourselves, and we are delighted to be able to thank all the people who helped out and contributed.

“We are a school that has not had much in the past in terms of funding and we worked very hard to get this money. We had to write an in-depth bid stating how the money would be used and how it would benefit the school and the community in terms of health, and providing sporting and social inclusion opportunities.”

Building work will start in January 2008, and is expected to be completed by May. According to Mr Kapur, although students from Broadoak and local primary schools will use the pitch during school hours, it will be open to the public in the evenings and at the weekends.

He said: “We estimate that 100,000 people will use the facility in the first year. There will be a small spectator area and floodlights, so it can be used all year.

“It will be similar to the pitch the England team played on in Russia.”

News of the grant was welcomed by Stretford and Urmston MP Beverley Hughes, who said: “This is great news for Broadoak pupils, staff and the wider community.

“This grant will enable the construction of first-class facilities, which will be a real boost to Partington.”