A NEW school cheerleading club has students leaping for joy.

Essex Elite Cheer Academy has launched a weekly club at Maltings Academy in Spinks Lane to inspire boys and girls to consider cheerleading as a hobby or sport.

More than 30 students turned up to the first session, with many having never considered sports clubs before.

Sue Larkin, Essex Elite manager, said: “We want children to get involved in sport and would love to take them to competitions. We have been competing internationally for four years and felt we could offer something to the students at Maltings. Aside from having fun and competing, we can get students as young as 14 qualified as coaches. We want them to have a shot at something different.”

The club members – who are learning dance, gymnastics and acrobatics - will put on displays in assembly to get more people interested.

Dick Gibbons, head of PE, said: “We’re keen to get a cheerleading team together to compete against other schools.

“It is about offering our students something other than the typical sports clubs of football and netball. It’s great to see some students going along who I’ve not seen at other extra-curricular clubs so we’re clearly providing another avenue for them to get active, have fun and get involved.”