A HIGH school is celebrating after being awarded a double dose of government and Lottery cash totalling nearly £700,000.

Broad Oak in Bury received £444,854 from the Lottery's New Opportunities Fund, strengthening its position as the borough's Specialist Sports College, and £250,000 to extend its role in the heart of the community.

The bulk of the cash will be used to improve and develop PE and sports facilities at the Hazel Avenue site. Its existing porous pitch will be upgraded to a full size synthetic turf pitch to boost a wide ranging sports development plan, including hockey, football and tag rugby.

The money will also be used to set up accredited training schemes for leaders and coaches in sport, benefiting the 700 pupils at the school, 1,715 pupils from its feeder primary schools and the surrounding community.

Mr Nigel Dawson, director of sport for the school, said: "This Lottery grant is excellent news and comes as a result of three years of development.

"The money will be a huge asset to the school and the community. We hope that many people in the local community will be able to make use of the improved facilities over the coming years."

The school is also to become a government trailblazer, with the £250,000 Department for Education and Skills money to extend its role as a focal point of the community.

The government cash will be accompanied by dedicated support from Bury Council which will provide a co-ordinator to guide the school's developing links with the community and expand community access to its facilities.

Although Bury Council encourages all its schools to develop community links and share facilities with local people and groups, Broad Oak High will become the first official 'Extended School' in the borough from next April.

It is one of only 106 schools in the country to be chosen to take part in the government's Extended Schools initiative.

Harold Williams, Bury Council's director of education and culture, said: "The money will be used to develop a range of services including childcare, adult learning, enhanced community use of sports facilities, and some element of healthcare.

"These services will be more readily available to the local community beyond the traditional school day and during school holidays."

It is expected that the services will be available from April 2005.

New research shows that the provision of community services in schools can improve pupil attainment, behaviour and attendance and boost community pride and involvement.