GETTING fit, active and learning valuable life skills is the inspiration behind one school’s entry into the School Build Challenge.

The Dorset Echo has teamed up with construction company Leadbitter to offer all schools in our area the chance to win an outdoor project to the value of £3,000, £2,000 or £1,000.

The competition is open to primary, junior, middle and secondary schools.

Royal Manor Arts College on Portland submitted an application outlining plans for a new bike workshop.

Applied learning co-ordinator Kate Carter said winning the competition would mean a lot to the staff and students and would really help to encourage students to use their bikes, stay fit and active and learn new skills.

She said: “It would be absolutely amazing to win. We want to offer cycle maintenance so that students can learn how to look after their bikes and cycle safety.

“This will encourage them to come to school in a healthy way and it will give students an after school thing, giving them something to develop as a hobby and give them interests outside normal academic routes.

She added: “It’s going to be quite a big community project. I think it will be a nice thing for students to learn and will give them practical skills.”

Students will learn how to service and look after their bikes in the new workshop and those in the after school club will have the opportunity to work towards a City and Guilds qualification which will involve learning how to replace tyres, gear systems, braking systems and hub bearings.

In the first year of the workshop it is hoped that 75 students from the school will be able to use the new facility.

The school also aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the school by encouraging more students to ride to school.

Mrs Carter said: “It would mean so much if we were successful, it would be the first step towards our project.”

The application process closes on Friday, June 10. The competition is open to all schools in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester and surrounding villages.

Those wanting to be in with a chance to win should fill in the application form on this page.

You also need to tell us in no more than 200 words about your project, what it would involve and why you need it.