AN ITALIAN restaurant will be forking out some dough to get students at a city school active.

Donatello, in Brighton Place, Brighton, has announced it will be sponsoring the Dorothy Stringer PE department.

Sue Addis, the restaurant's managing director, said she was thrilled the two were linking up.

She said: “We’ve been interested in sponsoring a community based project for some time and when Dorothy Stringer approached us it ticked all of the boxes.

“The PE department work hard at encouraging participation whilst nurturing excellence and it was important for us to make sure that we are not just dealing with the elite.

“Sport plays a vital role in building relationships and strengthening confidence and character through the notion of taking part.

“The beliefs of the company are seen through the practice of the school and this sponsorship deal will enable the community to see our passion for supporting young children through the notion of sport.”

The school’s sporting pedigree was displayed at the Youth in Action Education Awards.

Stringer’s rugby trip to South Africa was shortlisted for the Excursion of the Year and Teacher of the Year went to head of PE Grant Lawrence.

He said: “The support that Donatello has shown is incredible. With the ever increasing pressure on budgets in schools it is becoming harder and harder to offer the same service that we have always done to our students.

“This sponsorship deal means that we can further develop the provision for sport at the school and strengthens our link with the wider community.”

Donatello will invest in the school’s football, rugby, netball and basketball teams and buy equipment.

Richard Bradford, headteacher, said “We are delighted to welcome links with Donatello; it is fantastic to see a local business investing in grassroots sport.

“We believe the opportunities we offer outside the classroom are very important in developing students who are happy and engaged and therefore do well at school.

“Donatello’s support makes a big difference and will greatly enrich the extra-curricular provision that we offer students.”