efforts are being made to discover the next Andy Murray at Barrhead High after it was named a School of Tennis by a leading sports charity.

The school has been chosen by the Tennis Foundation to be a leader in a new project to improve the way the sport is offered to children across the UK.

This will see £5,000 of funding awarded in the scheme’s first year, as well as additional cash over the following two years, based on uptake.

Mike Russell, head of the school’s faculty of health and fitness, said: “This programme will give us the opportunity to improve learning and teaching, develop leadership skills in our pupils and increase the number of them playing tennis.

“Hundreds of children will benefit from this venture.

“Part of the plan is to appoint a group of S1 and S2 tennis ambassadors in school who will be heavily involved with the programme. After chatting with the ambassadors, we will decide how the £5,000 will be spent as it is really important that they have their say.”

Barrhead High is one of only nine schools in Scotland – and the first in East Renfrewshire – to be awarded this status.

By working alongside the Tennis Foundation, as well as East Renfrewshire’s Active Schools team, staff at Barrhead High hope to instil a love of the sport.

Active Schools co-ordinator Gary McGunnigle said: “The programme complements the ethos of the school in striving to improve the pupils’ confidence, employability and life skills, as well as promoting the physical and emotional benefits of participating in the sport.

“At the end of the three years, we are hopeful that we could see a club re-established in the town as well.”