UNIVERSITY of Worcester student James Noel understands the importance of education. The London-born 24-year-old wanted to be a footballer himself, but took up basketball at the age of 14 instead.

"I got a scholarship to play basketball at a high school in America at the age of 16, then I got a scholarship for university after high school in California," he said.

This is James's first year back in the UK, and he now plays for the Worcester Wolves team as well as studying for a masters in English.

But he is also starting a reading programme at nearby Dines Green Primary School, in a bid to encourage youngsters to realise the importance of their education.

The project started last week and will see James visit Dines Green once a week with a different book relating to sport.

"They will be things like sports fiction books. It's something I always wanted to do. In America they have more of an emphasis on using education and sport so I got the idea from that.

"As part of my masters I have a chance to do a placement so I decided to design the programme for that."

James said if the project proved a success he wanted to expand it, and perhaps even get other sporting figures in the area involved.

"I do coaching in the area and I picked Dines Green because it seemed to have, not real problems, but they have had in the past situations with Ofsted reports and it's a more deprived area," he said.

"I wanted to do something like that there and hopefully if the project expands it will be other schools too.

"In America there's a lot more of an emphasis on doing both. It was something my coaches in America hammered home, that education is really important."

He said he had seen the effects of giving up education for sport first-hand with his friends.

"I have a friend who played for Charlton youth team and when he got cut from the team that was it," he said. "It was sort of like what do I do now'? Whereas if he had stayed at sixth form it would have been easier for him if that did happen.

"I think one of the most important things is an awareness and to be encouraged that you can do a lot of things and the importance of getting your education and pursuing other things. Perhaps you wanted to be an athlete or a gymnast but if that does not work out you have still got your education to fall back on."

To organise the project, James has teamed up with year 4 and 5 teacher Lee Dunn, who said James had approached the school with the idea after he did some work with the children last year.

"I think he liked working with the children so he approached us with the idea," he said.

"James is coming to do this with me because last year I was in uni and I did a similar piece of research.It's ideal because I have the experience and will be able to help out."

He said the fact the children had already worked with James meant it was even more ideal, because they had seen his sporting skills through basketball sessions he held during the autumn term.

Lee said he thought the project would not only inspire the youngsters but show them the importance of education.

He said: "They will benefit from just having a sportsperson who is doing very well and actually has an education to back them up, because often you see these sportsmen who sport is their only thing.

"Some footballers or people in some sports are not pushed to get an education whereas James has been pushed and has got an education.

"It's just nice for the kids to have someone who will work with them on reading and will read something that they enjoy.

"It's nice that it's a different sport, because football is so predominant. For James to come in with basketball, the experience he offers is something I just can't give."