SEVEN high schools in Pendle have launched a bid to achieve specialist status by next year.

The schools are now in the process of organising sponsorship for the project following a meeting with businesses in the area.

Each school will have to raise £50,000 in sponsorship and put a bid in to the Government who will decide whether specialist status should be granted.

West Craven School already operates as a specialist technology college and Walton has applied for the same status.

The other schools involved in the scheme are Edge End, Nelson which wants to become an engineering college; Mansfield in Brierfield which is aiming for business and enterprise status; Park, Colne, maths and computing; Primet, Colne, science and Fisher More, Colne which wants to become a school for the visual and performing arts.

A further meeting to discuss the progress made in the scheme will be held in the New Year.