A SCHOOL is celebrating after its plans for top-class sports facilities were approved by Greenwich Council.

St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive School in Footscray Road, Eltham, applied to the council for permission to build a £500,000 multi-game sports area back in January.

The council's Eltham and Kidbrooke area planning and environment committee has now unanimously approved the project - clearing the path for the school's playground to be completely remodelled.

It will soon house an all-purpose sports surface and sprinting track as well as new changing rooms with disabled facilities.

The development will enable students to play tennis, netball and seven-a-side football in addition to 60m hurdles racing and long and triple jump.

This is a significant improvement from the old concrete playground which was laid at the school in 1964.

School headteacher Markus Ryan said: "This is a great project for the school but also for Greenwich and I am delighted that the council has secured this bid for us.

"The eyes of the world will be on London in 2012, maybe we have some of the stars of those Olympics here among our students. These new facilities will help bring that dream within their grasp."

Meanwhile, head of PE Louisa Spurr said: "We are actively working to get kids loving sport more - we've changed the PE uniform to make it more modern, the curriculum is developing to give students exposure to different sports, and the new facilities will be the icing on the cake.

"I'm excited about it all, and I know the students are too."

Funding for the project was mostly secured from Big Lottery Fund but Sport England - which provides funding to sporting initiatives, also contributed towards the total cost.

Councillor John Fahy, cabinet member for culture and the olympics, said: "The plans will provide fantastic new sports facilities for the students at St Thomas More, as well as improving the current facilities.

"We are keen to encourage as many young people as possible to get involved in sport, especially as we head towards the 2012 London Games.

"Having access to good sports facilities at school means young people have the opportunity to learn and try different sports and perhaps discover hidden talents."

Work will start in the next few weeks with the development expected to be ready by October next year.