GRANGE School and its neighbouring Somerford primary school have been chosen by Dorset education chiefs to be the first full service extended school in the county.

The scheme is an initiative by the Department for Education and Skills to encourage wider community involvement in schools and will attract a government grant of £162,000 for the Grange next April.

Members of Dorset County Council's cabinet chose the Somerford schools from a shortlist of six.

Dorset County Council's head of lifelong learning, Les Gardner, explained that the full service extended schools would provide a variety of facilities from pre-school to adult education includ-ing breakfast and after school clubs for children, childcare, holiday activities, out of school clubs and parenting courses.

Head teacher Chris Russell said: "Achieving extended school status is excellent news for the Grange School.

"It will put us at the cutting edge of lifelong learning in Dorset and will enable us to offer an outstanding range of opportunities and services to our students, parents and to the wider Christchurch community."

He added: "Winning against strong opposition from a large number of other Dorset schools is a great coup, both for our schools and for Christchurch."

News of the extended school project is the latest in a string of recent boosts for the Grange School, which last year marked its 50th anniversary with a major rebuilding programme.

In September the school re-opened with sports college status and has since been awarded a £640,000 National Lottery

grant to build a dance and fitness studio.

"These really are exciting times for the school," said Mr Russell.

First published: Oct 4