The Academy had to demonstrate its commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic Values, which include sports festivals with the other Brooke Weston Partnership academies and its sports leaders programme.

The Academy is also further developing its sports activities, with plans for a sports committee and magazine that will be distributed across the Partnership academies.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) awarded the Academy a plaque and certificate to acknowledge its involvement in the London 2012 education programme. 

The Academy now join schools and colleges across the UK as members of the special London 2012 community - the Get Set network - and will receive access to exclusive competitions and 2012 Games related opportunities over the coming years.

KSA will receive an allocation of tickets to the Olympic Games - staff will find out more in the spring. Being part of the network also means that sporting events at KSA could be shown on giant screens at both Olympic venues and venues across the country showing the games.

KSA will now work with other schools in the network to share ideas and resources. Through the programme, the Academy has already been twinned with a school in Nigeria, which will offer students a host of learning opportunities and a greater understanding of the wider world.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of LOCOG, said: "When London won the right to host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, we made a clear promise to use the power of the 2012 Games to inspire young people.

"I am proud to welcome Kettering Science Academy in to the Get Set network for their exciting work around the Olympic Values of friendship, excellence and respect and the Paralympic Values of inspiration, courage, determination and equality."

PE teacher at KSA, Lee Haywood (pictured), said being part of the Get Set network will mean more opportunities for students. He said: "I wanted to join the network to develop the way our academy celebrates the Olympic games.

"As an academy, we feel we would be able to offer many valuable ideas to other schools wishing to develop athletics and Olympic values. I feel that improving the standard in athletics across schools is the first step to raising standards achieved in Olympic events and that the Get Set network is the ideal place to start. Going to see the Olympic Games will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students."