TAVISTOCK based high flying Tae Kwon-Do champion, Tate Budge, will join other young athletes from Team UK squads when he starts at the newly launched Plymouth Studio School which opens on-site at the University of St Mark and St John this September.     

Tate, who was recently crowned overall UK ITF Champion, will be competing as part of Team UK (under 18s) at the Tae Kwon-Do European Championships in Moldova this summer. He will join Kerenza Bryson, who is part of the GB Modern Pentathlon team (under 19s), competing in European Championship in Prague this summer, and Chloe Stoneman, who will be part of the GB Underwater Hockey Squad (under 19s) competing at the World Championships in Spain.

The elite athletes are amongst the first 100 students who will specialise in sport alongside their academic studies and industry work placements at the new state school which is designed to give 14 to 16 year olds a head-start on their careers in sport, leisure and tourism and events.  They will also have access to the world-class sports and sports therapy facilities at the University of St Mark and St John.

In addition to its Elite Sports pathway, Plymouth Studio School has also linked up with Plymouth Mayflower Volleyball Club to launch an Elite Volleyball Academy to develop junior players for future Olympic representation.

As one of just 46 Studio Schools in the UK, Plymouth Studio School has been designed to give Year 10 and 12 students an opportunity to specialise in sport, tourism or hospitality event management alongside their GCSEs or A-levels, helping to build a skilled workforce for the rapidly expanding leisure and life-style sectors in Plymouth and its surrounding areas.    

Principal Matthew Lennon said: 'We're looking forward to giving our students the best mix of academic and vocational experience to help them build successful and exciting careers as sports and tourism professionals, sports therapists, sports coaches and event and leisure organisers and leaders of the future. 

'We still have some remaining places for September 2015, so for students who have just finished their GCSEs and still aren't sure what to do next, our open day is a good chance to come along and find out more.'