A SCHOOL S sports rebound wall has bounced off competition from hundreds of other Lottery-funded projects to reach the East of England final of The National Lottery Awards 2006. The rebound wall at West Walton Primary School is one of four projects chose

A SCHOOL'S sports rebound wall has bounced off competition from hundreds of other Lottery-funded projects to reach the East of England final of The National Lottery Awards 2006.

The rebound wall at West Walton Primary School is one of four projects chosen by a panel of judges to go head-to-head in a public vote to claim the title of the East of England's National Lottery Project of the Year.

The winner will earn a place in the UK final, set to be broadcast on national television later in the year.

According to some of its pupils, West Walton Primary School wasn't a sporty school - that was until £10,000 of Lottery money from Sport England enabled them to build a sports rebound wall and all weather surface.

The rebound wall has had a big impact on the children at West Walton Primary, as many had been inactive and had little interest in playing sport, but the new wall has made PE lessons much more exciting.

One of its most popular applications is Brazilian-style football training to the sound of Samba music; while the all-weather area is used for skipping rope classes every week. The rebound wall is also available to the community and has become a focal point for young people during weekends and holidays.

Maggie Barwell, project manager, said: "The rebound wall has made us all think about the sports curriculum we provide at the school and how best we can use it as a springboard for children's learning.

"The Lottery funding we received has made a huge difference and it would be a great honour and mean a lot for the school to win this award.