A PIONEERING coaching project is transforming the lives of schoolchildren in their future surroundings.

The scheme, Skills Plus, is run by Darlington College, in partnership with Darlington Borough Council, with pupils from Eastbourne Comprehensive School and McMullen House.

Teenagers from years ten and 11 attend the college to complete their education.

The initiative blends more vocational subjects such as hairdressing, catering, sport and construction with basic skills including maths and English, with students achieving GCSE equivalent qualifications.

In their latest venture, the students found themselves coaching sports to pupils from Abbey Road Junior School and acting as role models to younger children.

Darlington College sports tutor John Kenny said: "The students have being working with real subjects and have been able to impart their new-found knowledge of coaching to children of a younger age."

Project manager for children services Liz Hemingway said: "I am so proud of the Skills Plus students, who have been absolutely brilliant.

"The transformation is down to the college and its tutors.

"They seem to have turned a light on in the pupils, who are now incredibly motivated."

Year 11 Skills Plus students are due to leave at the end of the month, but have signed up to take a variety of courses at the new Darlington College when it opens its doors in Haughton Road in September. Year ten students will return to take higher qualifications.