Pupils and staff at a York school were today celebrating becoming a specialist technology centre which will generate more than £1 million for education in the city.

The Government announced today that Joseph Rowntree School, New Earswick, has won its bid for specialist school status.

The decision now paves the way for an extra £1.15 million of education funding for schools across the city. And it marks a huge boost for the City of York Council's unique Schools Learning Together project, which aims to turn the city's secondary schools into super-colleges to improve exam results and attract extra funding for education in the city.

King James's School, Knaresborough, has also been granted technology college status, which could lead to an extra £800,000 for education in the town over the next six years.

Prior to today's decision, the only school in York to secure specialist college status was Huntington School, York's largest secondary, which became a technology college in 1996.

Now joined by Joseph Rowntree, both schools are expected to be beacons for technology training and support for schools across the city.

Joseph Rowntree's bid was unique in that it was in partnership with the City of York Council.

It will bring £400,000 of Government funding to the city, to add to £100,000 already raised from sponsorship.

A further grant of £650,000 will come from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation - creating £1.15 million extra for education in the city.

Hugh Porter, head teacher of Joseph Rowntree School, said he was delighted with the success of the bid and stressed it was good news for all schools in the city.

Moreover, it was a stamp of approval from the Government for the education strategy of York, he said.

He added: "Joseph Rowntree School will get £250,000 over a three-year period. The bulk of the money goes into city schools.

"Whatever we do here, we will be able to share with other schools. If we try a project or technique, we can share that with other schools."

Michael Peters, director of educational services at the city council, said the money would be used to make all of York's 79 schools more effective.

He added: "Although most of the funding will go towards mathematics, science and technology, the project is also seeking to improve the process of transition from primary to secondary school for all pupils in York."

And he vowed that following the success of the Joseph Rowntree bid, the council would be submitting further ones to support other areas of the curriculum including modern foreign languages, performing arts, sport and health promotion.

A joint bid by Allertonshire School and Northallerton College in Northallerton to become technology centres was also approved by the Government.

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