STUDENTS are being given new officiating and coaching opportunities after their school has been recognised with leadership academy status.

St John’s RC School and Sixth Form, in Bishop Auckland, is one of only a select group of schools to receive the sports accolade.

Every year a group of students are selected to take part in the County Durham leadership scheme. The school has been involved in this for about four years and to achieve different awards, students have to volunteer for a number of hours.

Steven Taylor has reached his gold award after completing more than 200 hours of volunteering, while Brodie Grayson, Josh Holmes, Aidan Hart, William Calderbank, Heidi Coulthard and Erin Kelly have made it to 50 hours so have completed the bronze challenge.

Pupils have also been able to help with the running of sports teams, sessions and officiating.

In addition, the school has been running the Junior Sports Leadership Award for the last eight years. This has resulted in pupils helping out at nearby primary schools, running festivals and assisting with sports days.

A spokeswoman for the school said: “We are delighted to see Leadership grow in St John’s and have already begun leadership awards in literacy, numeracy and language.

“It is excellent to see confident and inspiring young people give back to these subjects, sharing their passion and expertise with students lower down the school.”