STAFF and pupils from a Southampton school have secured an extension to their Activemark Gold Award.

Harefield Infant School in Yeovil Chase is one of only 155 schools across the country to extend their award in the latest round of Sport England presentations.

Three years ago the school was the first in the city to win the Activemark Gold Award, which recognises commitment to physical education both inside and outside the school day.

Special events, such as mini-Olympics in partnership with neighbouring Woodland School last term, and every day activities to inspire pupils to lead healthy lifestyles all impressed the Sport England inspectors.

The extension means that Harefield Infant will continue to hold their Activemark Gold status until 2007.

Maggie Lund Yates, physical education co-ordinator at the school, said: "We all love PE at Harefield and have continued to work very hard to offer a wide range of opportunities in physical activity both in school time and at after school clubs.

"We have a good variety of equipment and make it fun for all - including the staff at playtime."

Education bosses have agreed to amalgamate Harefield Infant and Junior schools into a new primary school with 315 places in total.

The new school is to be built on the site of the infant school in Yeovil Chase with the project due to be completed by September next year.

Governors, church representatives and councillors sitting on Southampton City Council's School Organisation Committee also agreed to reduce the admission number at Beechwood Junior School from 360 to 240 and enlarge Moorlands Infant School into a 210 primary. The review was carried out to remove surplus places in the Bitterne and Townhill Park areas due to falling birth rates.