HARD work has paid off for two Vale Royal schools - as they have successfully achieved specialist status in their chosen subjects.

Helsby High school is to become a specialist science college from September 2003 and St Nicholas High School in Hartford has earned special status for business and enterprise.

Headteacher of Helsby High School, Richard Evans said: "I am delighted that our submission to join the government's specialist schools has been accepted.

"A great deal of hard work has been completed on the submission and I would like to thank the staff and parents who have supported this project.

"Even though we will be a science college we will still make a wide provision for our pupils in all areas of the curriculum and strive to sustain the high standards in all these areas that we have hitherto achieved.

"However, as a science college we will receive extra funding to resource the specialist subjects of science and mathematics to enable us to undertake interesting research and project activities in these areas."

Giving schools specialist status is part of the Government's plans to reform secondary education and is designed to focus teaching on the needs of individual pupils.

Before a school can achieve specialist status it has to raise £50,000 in private sponsorship and prepare a four-year development plan showing the improvements both in teaching and learning and involving other schools, organisations and the wider community.

Once specialist status has been achieved the school gets a £100,000 capital grant and £123 per pupil over a four-year period.

scorrigan@guardiangrp.co.uk