TAVISTOCK College has become an approved centre for a national award scheme — giving students the chance to experience leadership through sport.

The physical education department has been awarded the Sports Leaders UK Approved Assessment Centre Certificate, meaning it can deliver courses allowing students to demonstrate vital leadership skills.

Tristan Forster, acting head of the PE department, said: 'I believe the students who are given the opportunity to lead will benefit from the experience, and the college will gain from the newly-found young leaders.

'This award has given us the go-ahead to run courses that will give our young people the opportunity to gain valuable experiences they will be able to use in many walks of life.

'It will also enable us to utilise their new skills to help increase the amount of high quality physical education and school sport we can offer.'

The first course to be run at Tavistock College will be the 'Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership', allowing approximately 70 sports studies GCSE students the opportunity to plan a simple sporting or recreational activity and deliver sessions under supervision.

The course will promote valuable life skills such as basic communication which enable young people to lead in lessons, as well as in after-school clubs and societies.