CALLINGTON Community College is launching its new Sport and Dance Academy after three local professional sports and dance organisations have agreed to work in partnership with the school.

Plymouth Argyle FC, Attik Dance Company and Plymouth Raiders are working closely with the academy to help promote and deliver the football, basketball and dance programme for 16 to 19 year olds.

This was a unique opportunity to work with high quality professional sports people and for young people to receive a personalised sports package tailored to their sporting needs, said the college.

The sport and dance academy aims to provide a professional, structured and challenging training and competition programme for individuals who wish to combine their academic goals with their sporting and dance aspirations.

The new academy programme starts in September 2011, with football, basketball and dance being the first sports on offer, with others to be developed in the future. Director of the academy Alan Yendell said: 'We are privileged and honoured to be working in partnership with three first class, professional organisations, which will provide added value and further opportunities to all our students at the college.'

Students will enjoy five hours a week of specialist training, coaching, performance and competition alongside their full time academic course of study.

To be eligible they need to apply to study on a course that is on offer within the college's sixth form curriculum. Students can study a wide range of subjects at both Level 2 and Level 3. These include specific full time sport and dance courses.