A BRADFORD primary school is celebrating the new academic year with a £30,000 award to develop a new sports area.

Reevy Hill Primary School in Bedale Drive, Buttershaw, has been allocated the cash from Sport England’s £18 million National Lottery funded Primary School Facilities Fund - set up to provide outdoor multi-activity play areas in schools across the country.

It will be built on part of the school's existing playground and replace equipment which is past its prime.

The new equipment will also be available for use out of school hours.

The investment is designed to support those schools which are in greatest need of improvements to sports facilities.

At Reevy Hill Primary School, the cash will go towards providing a "multi-use gaming area" that staff say will make a huge difference to the delivery of PE within school and in addition will enable the community to take advantage of the facilities too giving them the opportunity to enjoy sport.

Head teacher Jo Bradley said: "We are delighted to have received this funding to help us to develop our outdoor sports facilities.

"Our pupils and families are eagerly awaiting the installation of the multi-activity play area. It will make a real difference to the opportunities for provision within the curriculum as well as allowing increased use by the local community outside of school hours."

Nick Bitel, Sport England chairman, said: “Having the right space to play sport and be physically active as a child is vitally important.

"We are delighted to be investing this funding in Reevy Hill Primary School to improve the spaces that will give children the space to start enjoying PE and sport."

Sebastian Coe, the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Ambassador, added: “A positive first experience of PE and sport at primary school is crucial to encouraging young people to be active throughout their lives, but for those schools with little or no outside space this can be extremely challenging to deliver.

“This funding will provide better outdoor multi-activity play areas at Reevy Hill Primary School that can be used both within the curriculum and outside school hours by local communities. I am convinced this will boost the opportunities for young people to be physically active."