QUINLAN Dunne and Kahlan Kan are two students to benefit from Priestley College’s new accreditation.

The honour was awarded by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), recognising the way Priestley supports students in achieving both their sporting and academic goals.

Great Britain rower Dunne, and Kan, who represents GB in karate, are just two of 16 students who have been selected to participate in the scheme.

The other Priestley athletes chosen take part in a wide variety of sports including rowing, jujitsu, swimming, kickboxing, as well as Thai boxing and rugby.

When competing away from home, tutors will be on hand to offer extra support for the pupils through virtual catch-up sessions.

“The idea is to make sure all tutors and staff realise how many hours a week these athletes are dedicating to training and competing, often travelling around the country and abroad,” said sport tutor Kathy Butler.

“We want to make sure the students are fully supported academically and that their sporting challenges and successes are celebrated properly in college.”

Priestley also plans to organise workshops focusing on time management, goal setting, nutrition, prioritising sleep, First Aid and careers.

In exceptional circumstances they might also be allowed deadline extensions for assignments.

The Sport England backed scheme said that Priestley would now be an important part of a network supporting more than 600 young athletes across the country.

“Duel career support is at the forefront of what TASS does and that’s why the accreditation scheme is so important for us in recognizing those institutions who place precedence on their athletes’ education too,” said TASS national director Guy Taylor.

“We hope the academic flexibility policies put into place for the accreditation will begin to develop an effective and lasting duel career structure within each institution.”

In backing the scheme, gold medal-winning Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said there was a duty to help young people achieve their potential, while prioritising their welfare, wellbeing and education.

“For the vast majority of athletes, skills and formal qualifications are needed to help them find alternative careers, either alongside their sporting activities or once their sporting days are over,” she said.

“For me the TASS Dual Accreditation Scheme is a vitally important measure in ensuring all athletes have the chance to pursue an education and enjoy a more well-rounded approach to life.”