BORO are helping put the SEAL on success in life for local young people with an innovative approach to teaching and learning.

Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community (MFCiC) have begun a partnership with Middlesbrough Council to pilot a new education method called Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning - or SEAL for short.

SEAL, part of the government's Every Child Matters and the Respect agendas, addresses problems experienced by young people who sometimes struggle to cope in society.

It aims to give them the tools to succeed in life by concentrating by improving areas including communication, learning and social skills, self-awareness, confidence and motivation.

Two groups of year seven pupils from Ormesby School will attend a programme focussing on team work and goal-setting and helping them investigate their aspirations for the future, using sport as well as classroom-based learning.

Lead tutor Claire McGarvey said: "It is really exciting to work on programme with such an innovative approach to learning.

"MFCiC have been delivering non-traditional programmes for more than seven years and part of their success has been having such a great local council behind them.

"I look forward to working on the SEAL programme and strengthening the bond between our two organisations further."