A ROSSENDALE High School is hoping to go from strength to strength after being granted specialist college status.

Alder Grange High, Rawtenstall, celebrated its first week as a specialist technology college with a balloon launch attended by parents, pupils, governors and sponsors yesterday afternoon.

The accolade means the school will now receive thousands of pounds of extra funding.

The Alder Grange success adds to the strength of schools in the valley, which already has several specialist schools including Haslingden High School for the performing arts, All Saints, Rawtenstall, which has specialist language college status and Whitworth High for sport.

The status will allow Alder Grange to tap into a £100,000 capital grant and £123 per pupil per year for four years. Schools making good progress in meeting their targets can apply for extension funding for another four years. Headteacher Iain Hulland said: "We are now part of a network of similar minded schools. We are also having a new block built which should be ready by the end of next year.

"The specialist status is fantastic because it gives us so much more opportunity and we can also work in partnership with primary schools to develop Maths, Science and ICT."

He added: "The balloon launch was chosen as a symbol that we have been given a good push forwards to take the school to the next stage of development.

"This was our first bid and it's very unusual that you win a first bid for specialist status which is why we were so delighted. It will enable us to see a lot of benefits for the youngsters, the teaching facilities and the outside community."