STUDENTS from three schools met for a day of competition and friendship in the first ever pupils' Olympics.

The King's Academy, in Middlesbrough, was chosen as host school and welcomed 120 students from Emmanuel College, in Gateshead, and the new Trinity Academy, due to open at Thorne, near Doncaster, in September, next year.

Teams competed against each other in rugby, hockey, table tennis, swimming and chess.

Nigel McQuoid, principal of King's Academy, said: "This event wasn't about winning, it was about everyone doing their best and making new friends. We really are a family of schools and plan to come together on a regular basis."

The day was extra special for students from Thorne, who wanted to find out more about academy life prior to their move later this year.

Ian Brew, principal of Trinity Academy, said: "As well as the competition, the day was an opportunity for our young people to get an idea of what their academy will be like, to talk to their King's counterparts, to ask questions and to make new friends.

"It was a great day of some strong competition and all the students mixed very well."

Year ten student Marcus Stones said: "The facilities are fantastic. If we have something like this at Thorne it'll really improve the area. Everyone we met was so friendly, they have been really good."

The competitions were co-ordinated by teacher David Whitaker with the chess contest overseen by Gerry Walsh, from Normanby, who is president of the British Chess Federation.

The Emmanuel Schools Foundation Olympic vase was handed over by King's student Andrew Emmerson to Jonathan Merton, from Emmanuel College, which will host the event next year.

The plan is for Trinity Academy to welcome students from Middlesbrough and Gateshead in 2006.