THE official launch of Derby's first trust school takes place tonight.

Derby Moor Community Sports College has linked with several other organisations in the city to create a charitable trust.

It aims to improve pupils' education through the extra links and greater contact with the community.

Partners in the Derby Moor trust are Derby County Football Club, Derby City NHS, Derby City sport and leisure and Ivy House Special School.

A priority of the trust is to strengthen health and well being through the partners and provide education, health, caring and sport for the community.

Head teacher Wendy Whelan said: "We have already started planning some exciting projects, including partner staff mentoring our pupils.

"Also, we are encouraging pupils to act as volunteers in community projects. We are an ambitious trust with a whole range of exciting opportunities being made available through our partners."

Tonight's event at the Riverside Centre will include a dance performance by pupils and will be followed by an exercise session at Pride Park stadium.

Several other Derby schools are also becoming trusts in the near future – including Lees Brook Community Sports College in Chaddesden.

Statutory notices for the school to change its status are published this week and it is expected to officially become a trust on May 1.

Two other schools, Bemrose Community School and Sinfin Community School, are to become National Challenge Trust Schools, which has seen them link with Littleover Community School and Chellaston School respectively.

National Challenge trusts are set up where schools are failing to meet the minimum 30% of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths.