SPORTING heroes of the future could be nurtured at Dyson Perrins High School with news that it is to become a Specialist Sports College from September.

The school, which celebrates its 50th anniversary later this year, will receive about £500,000 of extra funding over three years, giving budding David Beckhams and Jonny Wilkinsons the best possible chance of fulfilling their dreams.

Students are celebrating a second sporting boost in a year, with the announcement coming 12 months after the opening of the £1.3m lottery-funded Sport Dyson Perrins complex. Head David Griffin called the latest achievement a "major milestone in the history and progress of the school". "Sport is an important part of life here and can also be a good way of motivating potentially disaffected children," he said. "We can tap into sports through all sorts of subjects, not just PE."

A total of £100,000 of the money is earmarked for capital expenditure, with the school's sports centre being extended to house a state-of-the-art sports science annex.

The school will also receive an extra £129 annually for each of its 950-plus pupils, equivalent to some £125,000 a year.

Mr Griffin said that money would fund additional staff, community work and all the things needed to help the school further increase standards of education and achievement.

The school's bid for specialist status officially began in December, 2006. It had to raise £50,000 sponsorship, undertake a community-needs audit and pass a rigorous Government inspection.