A SCHOOL at the forefront of preparing the region's next generation of scientists and engineers has reaped its rewards.

Tanfield School, near Stanley, is the only education centre in the UK this year to be awarded combined specialist status for science and engineering.

Most schools bid for either science or engineering status and Tanfield is only the third school in the country to win specialist status for both.

Deputy headmaster Eric Fisk, who put Tanfield's bid together, said: "This is going to have a big impact on the development of the school and the local community as a whole.

"Winning specialist status is very appropriate as this is the school's 90th anniversary year. This award will take the school into a new phase in its development."

Part of the award will see pupils forge closer links with local businesses. And teachers from science, maths, technology and ICT at Tanfield will go out to its feeder schools to pass on ideas on best practice.

The school, which is in an area of high unemployment, spent two years raising the £50,000 required to bid for the status. To help find the funds, retired teacher Fred Westwater devised the patron scheme, which invites former staff and pupils to become patrons of the school by paying a minimum of £100.

The rest of the cash came in from local businesses, fundraisers by pupils and contributions from its feeder schools.

It has proved a sound investment, as the status brings with it a Government grant of £150,000, plus a further £70,000 a year for the next four years.

A large chunk has already been earmarked to redevelop one of the school's ICT suites and transform two technology rooms into state-of-the-art design studios.

There will be hardware and software to back them up, including wireless lap top computers and around 40 new PCs for the science and maths departments. It means pupils will be using exactly the same equipment they would employ in the workplace.

Work will be carried out during the school summer holidays and the design suites should be ready for the new term in September.