TWO Fareham schools are celebrating a £1.1m windfall for building improvements to boost sports and disabled facilities.

Henry Cort Community School is in line for a £500,000 sports hall extension while Portchester Community School is to benefit from £600,000 worth of internal alterations.

A two-storey extension to Henry Cort's sports hall would include changing facilities, a seminar room and much-needed new football pitches.

The plans are part of a partnership scheme to boost sports opportunities in five Fareham secondary schools - Crofton School, Cams Hill School, Brookfield Community School, Portchester Community School and Henry Cort Community School - and their feeder primary schools.

Ken Austin, assistant principal - director of physical education and sport, said: "We hope to raise the quality and quantity of sport for pupils and the wider community both the amount of out of hours extra-curricular activity and the quality of the experience."

The school, which became a specialist sports college in September, aims to hit the government target of 75 per cent of children taking part in PE and sport for two hours a week within the next three years.

Work will be funded by Hampshire County Council, lottery funds to the tune of £258,000 following a successful bid to the Football Foundation, a £110,000 grant from Fareham Borough Council and a combined contribution of £50,000 from Fareham Hockey Club, the Friends of Henry Cort School and the William Price Charitable Trust.

A separate scheme will see Portchester Community School made more accessible for students with disabilities.

The 860-pupil school, which was resourced for the physically disabled in 1994 and now has 25 disabled pupils, will have a new physiotherapy and medical room and automatic doors, ramps and handrails will be fitted throughout the school.

The reception and administration areas will also be upgraded as part of the project, which the school has pledged to contribute £150,000 towards.

Head teacher Carolyn Hughan said: "This will greatly improve facilities for physically disabled pupils but also for the whole student population and community users.

"It will make life a lot easier for them and everyone will be able to get around the school faster and more safely."

The work, which is due to start around Easter, will take place at the same time as a number of other improvements including new dining and toilet facilities and roof recladding.

It should all be completed by January.

The plans will go before county council leader Ken Thornber for rubber-stamping on his next decision day on Thursday.