TENSIONS are rising at Prestwich Community High School as they await the outcome of their specialist status bid.

Headteacher Geoff Barlow said the school is "very optimistic" as they go through to the second stage of assessment by the Department for Education and Skills. (DfES)

As reported in the Guide, the Heys Road school has put together an application to become a specialist performing arts college and if successful will benefit from extra government funding.

With the bid registered with the DfES, the school has been shortlisted for approval and was visited by an inspector on Tuesday (May 4).

Mr Barlow said: "The inspector gives nothing away on the day but we are very optimistic at this stage. It would be wrong to pre-empt their decision but we are all very excited at the moment."

The school should learn its fate in the summer.