ONE of Darlington's specialist schools has been accepted as an affiliate of the Technology Colleges Trust.

This move for Haughton Community School follows its successful bid for arts college status, which comes into effect in September.

Trust affiliation means the school can draw on the experiences and knowledge of other members, helping to improve not just arts subjects but also such things as technology.

Haughton is one of three new affiliates from the region, alongside Hetton School, in Houghton-le-Spring, and St David's RC School, in Acklam, Middlesbrough.

"The reason we have done this is so we can network with other specialist schools in the country and learn from it and improve in all sorts of different ways," said headteacher Shelagh Potter.

"We are very pleased that they have accepted us.

"It's a tremendous boost. We received quite a large amount of money to refurbish the school."

Affiliated schools receive a range of benefits, including support with curriculum development, especially in science, maths, technology, language, the arts and vocational education.

As part of the arts status, the school has created two new posts and received £100,000 capital from the Department for Education to refurbish and upgrade its arts facilities.

The posts of director of performing arts and drama outreach worker will begin in September.

They also have the right to use the TC logo and have the opportunity to work and participate in, TC initiatives.

Another benefit is that the new colleges will work in close partnership with the original 15 city technology colleges and the growing number of TCs and language, sports and arts colleges.

Christine Prentice, director for external relations at the TC Trust, said: "The trust's network of affiliated schools continues to grow at a quite phenomenal rate.

"One of the main benefits of affiliation is access to a network of like-minded schools, both regionally and nationally."

There are now 967 TCs nationwide and, to qualify, schools must comply with criteria such as industry links, an emphasis on teaching technology, science, maths or languages, a value given to vocational education and a strong strategy for encouraging post-16 education.