STAFF are delighted that their Sedgefield school has achieved specialist status.

Sedgefield Community College was yesterday named as a specialist sports school by Minister Stephen Timms.

The decision means the school will receive £100,000 for capital projects and £123 per pupil per year for the next four years.

The school will use the money to build a dance studio, which will be available for a wide range of activities.

There are also plans to introduce computer technology, to help improve students' performance in sports, and cardio-vascular equipment for training.

Revenue money received by the school will be used to employ another teacher and to widen the curriculum to help with numeracy and literacy.

Headteacher Lynne Ackland said: "The whole thing is not just about the specialism, it is about raising standards, and we think we can raise standards through sport because it is a great leveller."

The college had to raise £50,000 in sponsorship and prepare a comprehensive four-year development plan before it could be considered for specialist status.

Mrs Ackland said: "We are absolutely over the moon because the school is really improving a lot and has done really well.

"Last year, our Key Stage 3 results were fantastic, so this is another shot in the arm and reward for all the hard work people have put in.

"The school has gone through an awful lot of changes in a very short space of time, and is getting better and better and at last somebody nationally has said to us they think our plans are good.

"The staff in this school have responded to an enormous amount of change. They have taken it all on board and are really committed."

Many schools which achieve specialist status often change their name, but Mrs Ackland said staff had not had time to pause for breath.

She said: We haven't been thinking about that. We were just gobsmacked when we heard, because it is the best news we have had for years."

Sedgefield Community College has already been successful in gaining substantial National Lottery funding to provide all-weather hard surface outdoor playing areas and improved changing facilities. It is also home to Sedgefield Tennis Club