Three groups of pupils pitched, in the style of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den programme, for one funding pot to create the new club and they all gave compelling cases for their particular sport making it extremely difficult to choose a winner.

The ‘dragons’ panel included Principal Mr Scott and Miss Anderson, second in PE, along with Megan Fey and Chris Dennis from Living Sport, who had to decide which of the groups would receive the £1,000 funds to create a new club to be run at our school.

The new club choices were Laser Tag, Ultimate Frisbee and boxing - with the panel deciding it was the boxing that should receive the money so a new club could be launched at our academy.

“It was a really tough decision because all the groups had worked so hard to present their pitches. They had thoroughly researched their sport and gave us good reasons why the money should be awarded to them. But ultimately we had to make a choice, and we all felt the boxing pitch was the most worthy winner,” said Mr Scott.

“We look forward to the first club meeting and hope many students will join and support those who made it possible,” he added.

All three groups stuck to the brief, which included the need to provide a positive experience for students aged from 14 to 19 with the new club, which has to run either at lunchtime or after school.

“It was a very tough call but, we are all looking forward to the first meeting of the new boxing club and hope it is very successful. Congratulations to the pitching teams for their brilliant work,” said Miss Anderson.

The winning pitch was made by students: Eleanor Beesley, Abi Condon, Hannah Nicholls, Kacey Coleman, Lacey Whitehead and Alisa Pavlovica.