Queens Park Rangers are encouraging boys to pay more attention in class with the incentive of living like a footballer for a week.

The club hopes to improve educational standards in schools, and 24 students from Burlington Danes in Hammersmith have been given the chance to improve their prospects.

And Rangers have won the the support of The Football League Trust.

Trust Regional Community Manager Greg Baker said: "This is a fantastic scheme that will help boost education standards in QPR's local community.

"The Football League Trust was set up to help make a difference in communities, and this is the sort of initiative we are looking to develop alongside all our clubs."

The pupils involved have a history of attention difficulties in English, maths and science - and poor punctuality.

But they now get early-morning coaching sessions, and are given marks out of 20 each day by academic teachers.

The lads who collect 100 points per week are awarded free QPR match tickets.

And boys who maintain a high standard throughout the ten-week course then get to mirror the training schedule of a professional during a five-day course at Westway Sports Centre.

Rangers' Community Sports Coach Daniel Edwards said: "There has been such an improvement in their attitude already.

"We are halfway through the course and the boys love it. We get in at 6.45 every morning, and they are all waiting."

The Inspire Football Project is part of Hammersmith & Fulham Council's School Sports Partnership. The boys involved are aged 15 and 16.

One of them, Leroy Gravesande, said: "This course is professionally organised and we're improving as footballers.

"But we're doing better in lessons, too. We know that if we step out of line, we're off the course."

Another course boy, Josh Wint, added: "The quality of our play is much faster and sharper now, and we're better in our classes."

Community and Children's Services Counsellor Antony Lillis said: "This is an excellent way of helping young people through the power of sport.

"I am sure all the pupils will enjoy their time spent with the QPR coaches and players and hope that the experience will lead to them improving their school attendance and attention to learning."