Aldercar Community Language College has held after school
training sessions with help from Derbyshire Police for the last six weeks and it's fair to say they've proved popular.
There were tears mixed in with the sweat as the course drew to a close in front of the local media last week.
Every Thursday night for the last six weeks a set of punch bags and weights have been moved into the school gym and volunteers from Derbyshire Police have taught the girls fitness and boxing techniques.
The programme was started by Detective Inspector Steve
Osbaldeston as a tool to tackle anti social behaviour in Chesterfield and the surrounding area.
Inspector Osbaldeston said: "Some youngsters believe there is nothing for them to do after school and
subsequently hang around town centres, leisure centres and street corners causing nuisance, vandalism and
acting in an unsocial way.
"We've started taking this gym equipment around problem areas to try and get them off the street. We take the kit to them and the local beat team get the kids in off the street.
"In Shirebrook there was a 50 per cent reduction in calls for service around the leisure centre which is known as a trouble spot."
Steve's wife Jo works as a youth involvement officer at Derbyshire Police A Division, between her and Aldercar Community Language College assistant principal Kathy Hardy, the idea has successfully transferred into the school.
Kathy Hardy said: "We've been looking for something to get the girls at our school involved in because this age group does have a high drop out rate for physical activity.
"The classes have raised the girls fitness and self esteem – this is the last week of six and they don't want it to stop. A lot of the girls are now looking for kick boxing clubs and doing regular exercise – it's given them so much confidence.
"The group has mixed ages and academic abilities – you'd never find them together in any other circumstances."
At the end of the final session some of the star performers were rewarded with mobile phones and digital cameras.
Paige Burley from Langley Mill collected a digital camera as most improved participant.
She said: "It's been fantastic. I'm really going to miss it. It was harder than I thought but the staff have been very helpful."
Natasha Hicklin from Langley won a mobile phone as the best performer overall.
She said: "I've enjoyed everything about it, I'd definitely recommend it to anybody."
The school is now trying to raise funds to launch a similar scheme for the boys. Meanwhile the police initiative will move on to another area suffering from anti social behaviour.
Steve Osbaldeston said: "The girls here have been brilliant – I believe they prefer this to dancing. We'd like to spread it across the county but it's a question of money."

By Clive Whittingham