AMY Ibbotson and Jack Hodgson have an exciting year ahead of them.

The pair, both Year 12 pupils at All Saints RC School, will be meeting sporting celebrities, attending conferences and passing on their expertise to others after being chosen as sporting ambassadors.

Selected by the Ebor School Sports Partnership to represent them in the year ahead, the duo have also embarked on the Step Into Sport Programme - a national programme run by the Youth Sport Trust and North Yorkshire Sport.

This will give them the opportunity to put their skills to good use by working with local sports clubs. They have both already secured placements. Jack is working with the York City Knights while Amy will be coaching at her local football club in Huntington.

The role of the sporting ambassador will give Jack and Amy an insight into the wider sporting arena. Over the next year they will go to conferences, meet celebrities, and receive equipment to build up their ability to endorse the need for PE and school sport.

Having gained these experiences they will then be expected to pass this message on through partnership activity and in school.

At their school, they will be expected to organise and officiate at the many partnership festivals over the year, as well as be on hand to award the prizes at the end.

The Ebor School Sports Partnership will also be investing in Jack and Amy, sending them on coaching courses and providing them with leadership opportunities across student councils and PE forums.

Partnership development manager Andy Pope said: "This is a big opportunity for Amy and Jack to be involved in grass-roots sport building up to the 2012 Olympics in London. They have been chosen because of their proven commitment to sport and they will be excellent role models for all pupils in the partnership.

"The two ambassadors will also be expected to act as mentors to younger sports leaders, giving them practical advice at organised leadership events, and letting others learn from their experiences. It is going to be a busy year for them both, but they are looking forward to the challenge."