Discipline has been the key word at Reepham High School and College this year as 12 students have passed a course in football refereeing.

The Year Nine students – 10 boys and two girls – took the Norfolk FA course which involved two hours of theory work every week for a nine-week period, culminating in an exam. The 14-year-olds are now qualified to officiate in matches for their own age group or younger.

The course was jointly funded by the West Norwich and Dereham School Sports Partnership and the pupils themselves and Peter Taylor, school sports co-ordinator and PE teacher at Reepham, said: 'It is the first time that the course has been run at the school and we understand that the students are the youngest in the county to pass the exams. All of the students will be able to use it towards their GCSE PE grades.'

The 12 students are: Conner Waters, Ben Wilkinson, Jack Livock, Harri Clarke, Isobel Filby, Harrison Chapman, Tom Fisher, Harry Verguson, Jack Verguson, Max Goodrum, Barnaby Hands and Jack Stables.