STUDENTS from three schools came together to compete in the first pupils' Olympics.

The King's Academy, in Middlesbrough, hosted the event and welcomed 120 students from Emmanuel College, Gateshead, and the Trinity Academy, due to open at Thorne, near Doncaster, in September.

School 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."

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, who will be going to the Trinity Academy, said: "The facilities are fantastic.

"If we have something like this at Thorne, it'll really improve the area.

"I didn't expect everyone to be so friendly either, but they've been really good."

Other students praised the academy and its sports facilities.

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

At the end of the day's events, King's student Andrew Emmerson handed the Emmanuel Schools Foundation Olympic vase to Jonathan Merton, from Emmanuel College, which will host the event next year.

Trinity Academy will welcome students from Middlesbrough and Gateshead in 2006.