PUPILS as young as 12 are being trained to GCSE level in computer technology at Pewsey Vale School to make youngsters more valuable to potential employers.

The school recently wrote to parish councils to inform them of the initiative, in which children from year eight upwards study the course leading to a General National Vocational Qualification, or GNVQ.

Deputy headteacher John Cranfield said: "This is the equivalent of two GCSEs from A* to C. It demonstrates the school's commitment to and belief in information and communication technology.

"We have been told that by 2004 the country will be short of 250,000 people trained in ICT. Our pupils will be in great demand by employers."

The course used by the school was modified by staff at a school in Brighton to make it simpler linguistically. Pupils are given a CD Rom which they take and work on at home.

Mr Cranfield said: "If you want to push the more able, that's the way to do it."

The school is working on a plan to apply for specialist language college status. Now it is sending it out for consultation to its feeder primary schools and local communities.

Mr Cranfield said: "It is a long consultation period because this is their plan as much as it ours and we want their input to be comprehensive. We would like it to come from pupils, parents, community groups and businesses. It is a window of opportunity for the whole community."

As at present, the school will teach French and German, but with the specialist college status it will be able to offer shorter courses in Italian and Spanish as well.

It also has to raise £50,000 to show its intentions are in earnest which will be match-funded with £100,000 from the Department of Education and Skills.