Ref. 75795-34A HEADTEACHER has toasted his school's success after it was named the first specialist Business and Enterprise College in Swindon.

St Joseph's Catholic Comprehensive School will become a Business and Enterprise College on September 1, following an announcement by government minister Stephen Twigg.

This means that the school will receive £600,000 in funding over the next four years to build new facilities and to provide teaching aimed at preparing children to be future entrepreneurs, in partnership with Swindon businesses.

Headteacher Peter Wells, said: "We chose to bid to become a Business and Enterprise Specialist School because Swindon is a strong and successful business centre.

"Because we will have extra resources we can exchange teachers and youngsters from our link schools. We want businesses to be associated with this and we're hoping someone will come on to the governing body from a business and will help us to design a curriculum."

The specialist bid was submitted in October 2004, along with proof that the school had raised £50,000 in sponsorship.

The school will acquire its Business and Enterprise status a year before it is due to move into a state of the art new building in Ocotal Way.

Mr Wells said: "The new building will be big enough for 1280 young people.

"There will be air conditioning throughout the school and a fibre optic highway running through the building for the computers, CCTV and sound system."

The headteacher, his staff and the students celebrated the news with a small party after school.

Class notes

A SCHOOL with specialist status is one which focuses on a particular subject but also meets National Curriculum requirements.

To apply for specialist status schools must raise £50,000 in private sector sponsorship and draw up a four-year school and community plan to raise standards, increase provision and encourage take up in their specialist subject.

The schools get £100,000 to enhance the facilities in the school relating to its specialism; and £129 per pupil per year for four years.

The school itself must raise £50k.