BURY C of E High School is to become the latest secondary in the borough to seek specialist status.

Headteacher Mr Phil Grady has disclosed the school will bid for specialist status in religious education, supported by history and geography, two of its "strongest GCSE options".

Mr Grady made the announcement at the school's presentation of awards and certificates evening. Guest speaker was Mr Mike O'Hare, principal of Holy Cross College.

Mr Grady said: "The Government has now opened up a new specialism in humanities which will allow us to specialise in the subject we have always given priority to, namely religious education, supported by history and geography.

"In order to be able to apply for specialist status the school has to find a sponsor willing to put up £50,000 which the Government will then match fund with £100,000 in order to enhance the facilities for our specialised subjects."

Mr Grady also announced that £114,000 had been pledged towards the £125,000 which is the governors' share of the cost of the school's new sports hall.

"That is a magnificent effort in just 15 months and represents a tremendous coming together of parents, governors, staff, pupils, friends and supporters," Mr Grady continued.

He said that once the hall was in use, the school would redevelop the existing gym and changing rooms. The gym would become a new library and ICT (information communication technology) resource centre, with a second music room also planned.

The changing rooms would be converted into two new classrooms and a special needs suite and the existing library would become a second art room.

Mr Grady went on: "We may have to stop at that, although we are hoping to get funding to go further." There are additional plans to build a new four-classroom block, incorporating a lift.

"We also hope to extend and remodel the front of the school to provide much better accommodation for our admin office and for teaching staff to work in."

The school will be submitting a bid for Government funding for all these schemes and should be aware of the outcome just after Christmas.

Mr Grady said these developments would allow the school to offer more places to pupils beginning next September.

"We shall not be mushrooming into a gigantic school where no-one knows anyone else," he stressed. "Our proposal is for a modest increase taking the total school roll from 650 pupils to 775."

AWARDS

The Chadwicks of Bury Award for art and design, Elena Del Vescovo: D&T: electronic products, Matthew Newport: The Millers Bakery Machinery Award for D&T: food technology, Daniel Beswick: D&T: graphic products, Rachel Gully: The Philip Wardle Award for D&T: resistant materials, John King.

The Mark Edgell Memorial Award for drama, Charlotte Barlow: The Marion Hope Award for English language, Matthew Newport: The Governors' Award for English literature, Rachel Edwards: The Swintex Award for French, Katie McKechnie: Geography, Michael Rooney: The Elfriede Greenhalgh Prize for German, Penny Hargreaves:

The Bury College Award for GNVQ health & social care, Adam Milner: History, Daniel Lomas: The Northern Business Computers Award for information & communication technology, Matthew Newport: The Dorothy Inman Award for mathematics, Christopher Cottam: Media studies, Emma Clegg:The National Westminster Bank Award for music, Katherine Hollinson: Physical education, Karim Slimane: The Canon J. R. Smith Prize for religious education, Hannah Dixon: Science, Andrew Howarth: Biology, Elena Del Vescovo: The Colin Howarth Memorial Award for chemistry, Thomas Warburton: The John H. Allen Award for physics, Christopher Cottam: The Neil Stansfield Memorial Award for special achievement, Maria Sablina: The Friends' Award for academic excellence, Matthew Newport.

Awards for contribution to school life.

The Smethurst Prize, Daniel Critchlow: The Green Memorial Prize, Daniel Lomas: The Jessie Hesketh Award, Rachel Gully: The T.A. Whittam Award, Adam Milner: Award for head boy, Karim Slimane: Award for head girl, Elena Del Vescovo: Award for deputy head boy, Daniel Lomas: Award for deputy head girl, Hannah Dixon.

The Governors' Awards for Endeavour, Penny Hargreaves; Danielle Pester; Thomas Warburton; Rachel Edwards and Elena Del Vescovo.

Sports Awards.

The Barrie H. Kelly Trophy for achievement in sport, Huw Davies: The Stephen Wright Memorial Award for contribution to school sport, Melanie Howe.

Community Awards.

The Soroptimists International shield, Ashleigh Rolling: The Bury Lions Award for service to the community, Rachel Gully: The Zimak Award for citizenship, Daniel Critchlow.