A DARLINGTON academy is set to open its doors to community groups to make use of its sports and performing arts facilities on evenings, weekends and during school holidays.

St Aidan’s Church of England Academy has joined forces with School Lettings Solutions (SLS) to manage its facilities and provide leisure venues for various activities, such as fitness classes, dance workshops and craft groups.

The academy will play host to activities, such as hockey and football and community groups can hire its facilities, which include a sports hall, main hall, atrium and a conference room, for regular classes or ad hoc events.

It is hoped the partnership will open up new opportunities to the academy’s students, as well as residents of all ages in Darlington.

Nicole Gibbon, principal at St Aidan’s Church of England Academy, said: “We’re really excited to be opening up the academy to the wider community.

“We’re proud of the facilities we offer our students, such as our sports hall and atrium, and it makes sense to us that they are available to use during evenings and weekends as well.

“We’ve already got some great partners signed up to use our facilities, and we’re looking forward to getting more on board.

"This can only be a positive thing for our students and people in the area.”

SLS works with more than 160 schools nationwide with the business expanding into the North-East.

For more information on the facilities, call 01325-271616 or email staidansacademy@schoollettings.org