FIVE East Lancashire schools have been recognised for their commitment to sport and physical education for pupils.

St Christopher's CE High and Mount Carmel RC High,Accrington, St Theodore's RC High, Burnley, Fisher More RC High, Colne and Mansfield High, Nelson, have all been awarded Sportsmarks by the Department of National Heritage. To qualify for the awards, schools must have at least two hours a week of PE for students and give all pupils the chance to take part in competition throughout the year.

Inter-school and inter-class contests must be available to all ages in at least three sports for both boys and girls. Schools must also ensure teachers are continually training for and gaining coaching qualifications. Links with local sports clubs should also be established.

The awards are valid for three years and schools can upgrade them to Sportsmark Gold awards, which require even greater commitment.

Mount Carmel headmaster Peter Boylan, said: "It demonstrates the wide-ranging contribution that our sports programme makes to the life of the school."

Peter Donnelly, head of Fisher-More, congratulated his PE staff for getting the award. "Only 400 secondary schools in the country have been awarded this and it is a measure of the effort and commitment shown by staff and pupils."

The school recently won the Overschool Trophy for the third year running at the Pendle Schools athletics competition.

Alan Duckworth, head of lower school at Mansfield, said the staff, parents and pupils were proud to have been awarded the Sportsmark. "The school's sporting achievements are renowned and are improving year on year," he added.

Heather Sharrock, head of the physical education department at St Christopher's, said the award would help the school in applying for funding.

Andrew Stubbs, head of PE at St Theodore's, said: "We are very proud to achieve the award. It highlights the commitment of the staff at the school who have been involved in sport."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.