HIGHWORTH Warneford School is to bid for technology college status and must raise £50,000 by March if it is to succeed.

If the attempt to become an officially-designated specialist school pays off, the Government will pay £500,000 over four years from next September.

There are currently three specialist schools in Swindon.

Dorcan Technology College has been so successful that it has been invited to apply for a second four-year stint, while Kingsdown School was granted technology college status and Ridgeway School became a science college in September.

In order to be granted specialist status, schools must be able to demonstrate a special commitment to the relevant subjects and be willing to liaise with the wider community, including employers and primary schools.

Highworth Warneford head teacher John Saunders said: "We believe that this would be a way of raising standards all across the curriculum.

"All the pupils at our school, plus those at local primary schools, would benefit.

"Our lead subjects would be science, maths and design technology.

"We would use the extra money to improve resources for the pupils, and at the same time we would improve the educational facilities we offer to the local community."

The school's performance is consistently above the national average.

In any given year, the percentage of children attaining at least five GCSEs at Grade A hovers in the low 50s, while at Highworth Warneford the figure is in the mid-60s.

Mr Saunders said that the school performed especially well in the subjects it intended to specialise in.

However, the rules of application for specialist status mean that it has only until next March to raise the £50,000 stake with which it must back its bid.

To that end, the school has launched a fundraising campaign aimed at local businesses, community organisations and individuals.

Mr Johnson said: "We are asking for sponsorship in time for that first deadline."

After that, the bid will be assessed in detail by Government education officials.

But even if the bid is successful, there will be repeat inspections and assessments to ensure standards are maintained.

Of the rest of the dozen schools across the borough, seven are applying for specialist status in disciplines ranging from maths and computing to performing arts.

Of the remaining two, Head-lands and Churchfields, Head-lands is in special measures and Churchfields is appealing against a decision to strip it of performing arts college status.

Anybody with sponsorship inquiries is invited to call the school on 01793 762426.

Barrie Hudson