Alex Colman

Sports Leaders at the Priory City of Lincoln Academy are congratulated by National Development Manager for Sports Leaders UK, David Savidge.

A Lincoln school has been awarded Sports Leadership status, the first in Lincolnshire and only the 18th in the UK to achieve the accolade.

The Priory City of Lincoln Academy was presented the award by Sports Leaders UK during a ceremony involving staff and students at the school on March 2.

Sports Leadership status recognises not only the range and quality of sports offered to students but the amount of extra volunteering they carry out in the local community.

The Priory’s students have been praised in particular for work within the community, helping at local primary schools and also at Hartsholme House residential care home.

National Development Manager for Sports Leaders UK, David Savidge, was impressed by the dedication of the school.

“Here they do so much more and go the extra mile with so many extra hours volunteering which is a huge benefit to the local area,” he said.

Some 171 students are taking part in the Sports Leadership courses this year from a Young Leaders Award for year 8 pupils to a Higher Sports Leaders Award for year 13 pupils which also carries UCAS points.

Academy Headmaster Phil Ryland said: “The award recognises the excellent work our PE department has done in establishing and developing a range of sports leadership courses for the long-term benefit of our students.”

Aiming high (L-R): Pupils Millie Buckthorp, Adam Crookes, Fern Carter and Lee Burns help each other perfect their basketball skills.

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney was a special guest at the ceremony to present the award and is pleased sport is still high on the agenda in education.

“The courses are a great way for kids to learn directly from their peers and I’m glad to see the positive impact it has on the constituency,” he said.

Gaining Sports Leadership status comes after the school was granted academy status by the government in 2008 and as a £26 million rebuild is due to be completed this summer.

Lincoln man exits MasterChef competition at the final five stage but the dream isn’t over

Eamonn Hunt, a joiner from Lincoln, left the competition on Wednesday after failing to impress food critics Charles Campion, Tracey MacLeod and Jay Rayner.

His hopes of becoming a chef are still alive though, as Hunt plans to gain work experience in top kitchens and carry on cooking with the support of MasterChef.

“All the contestants are told ‘now you’re on the show you’re part of the MasterChef family’ and they want to help you all the way,” he said.

The support from Lincoln has also been outstanding from Hunt receiving letters and cards through his door to hugs and good will on the street.

“The response has been overwhelming and despite feeling I’ve let everyone down, I even had people congratulating me on the way to work this morning at 7:30am,” said Hunt.

Lincoln is set to benefit from his fine cuisine as Hunt is discussing cooking at local restaurants for pop-up MasterChef nights and is now looking to work as a chef in Lincoln with the dream of one day opening his own restaurant further down the line.