A SCHOOL head teacher has a date with royalty.

Next month high school head Tony Colley will meet Prince Charles in recognition of his school's academic achievements.

The Fred Longworth High head has been summoned by Royal Command by the Prince of Wales to a reception at Highgrove -- for his part in the school's amazing success.

In the past six weeks the Printshop Lane school has scooped eight awards.

The school received an "outstanding" accolade from Ofsted in March and last month Education Minister Charles Clarke handed out a School Achievement Award for performing much better than similar schools. And this week Freddie's won "Leading Edge" status -- a title only awarded to 100 schools nationwide.

Deputy head Peter Hodkinson said the meeting with Prince Charles was the icing on the cake for the school.

He said: "We are delighted that Tony Colley will be meeting Prince Charles. It's a massive honour for the school -- we will not only be representing Tyldesley but Wigan as well. We want to return the favour and ask Prince Charles to come and visit us at Freddie's.

"In the past six weeks we've had an avalanche of awards, it's been hard to keep up with them all. It's all down to the fantastic kids and the highly professional staff we have here. "

Extended

The school, which became one of the first six Art Colleges in the country in 1997, has had its status extended for another four years, which means an extra £135,000 per year funding. And the Arts College won the Award of Arts Mark Gold.

Sport was also recognised when they won the Sports Mark Gold mark from Sport England -- and in February they were presented with the Healthy Schools' Award to reflect the high standard of their Personal, Social and Health Education programme.