EXCITED students at a Barnoldswick school met two Burnley FC players as part of the club's Premier League Enterprise Programme.

Almost 50 year nine students at West Craven High School participated in the 12-week project, which included workshops in school and at Burnley FC’s Turf Moor Stadium.

Defender Michael Keane and winger George Boyd awarded certificates to students who successfully completed the course, posed for photographs, answered questions and took the time to catch up with students and staff they met on a visit to West Craven earlier in the school year.

Student Kieran Cunningham said: “I am a big Burnley fan and I really appreciate Keane and Boyd giving up their time and coming into school. I learnt more about their past and of their future ambitions.”

Debbie Gartland, head of year nine, said: “The benefits of the project have spread right across school with teachers reporting improvement in attitudes, motivation and attainment in all subject areas.”

Burnley FC in the Community has been delivering the Premier League Enterprise to schools in Burnley and Pendle for just over 12 months and evaluations demonstrate that more than 75 per cent of participants achieve increased levels of attainment as a result of taking part in the programme.

The Premier League Enterprise programme aims to build self-confidence, improve attainment in literacy and numeracy and helps 14 to 16 year olds understand the basic principles of business through a range of interactive learning opportunities.