THREE Prestwich high schools are hoping to attract a combined total of £1.5 million in funding in a bid to become specialist schools.

If successful in the ambitious bids, the pupils of St Monica's, Parrenthorn and Prestwich Community High will lead the way in the fields of languages, technology and the arts.

Not only will the pupils benefit from specialist school status in terms of raised standards, but the scope is there to involve the whole community, including neighbouring primary schools, in the school's specific expertise.

Each school is preparing a detailed, individual application to the Department of Education but they have received combined support from the local business community who have pledged to help them raise £150,000 in sponsorship.

Prestwich Business Forum has agreed to set up a sub-group with the three high schools to discuss ways they can provide help, either in cash sponsorship or services.

Business forum chairman, John Ardern said: "We were treated to this vision of the future for high school education in our area for pupils, parents and the community as a whole. We want to be a part of that future and have already started with plans to raise the necessary sponsorship."

St Monica's RC , already a Beacon School, is aiming to lead the bidding with a "fast-track" application they hope to submit by October.

After raising £50,000 in sponsorship, a successful bid will be rewarded with more than £700,000 of Government funding over a five-year period to develop languages provision.

More languages could be introduced, such as German, Italian and Japanese, and facilities provided will include video conferencing, translation services and evening classes.

Head teacher Frank McCarron said: "I like to take an optimistic approach and we will try to blitz the fund-raising between April and June.

"If a Japanese sponsor was to arise I would seriously look at employing a teacher and introducing the language to the school. That would be wonderful and would give the children of Prestwich a head start in life."

Fellow Beacon school Parrenthorn aims to build on its success in the field of maths, science, textiles, information technology and resistant materials to gain technology college status.

Head teacher Arthur Francis said if they could raise the required £50,000, the children, parents and community would be rewarded with ten times as much in funding.

He added: "We would hope to develop things on site for the use of the local community and local businesses, industry and commerce. There would be continual improvement at school level as well as potential to introduce service training opportunities and conference facilities."

Both Parrenthorn and Prestwich Community High, which completes the triangle with its bid for arts status, will be working hard over the next 12 months in time for their applications next March.

Margaret Booler, head teacher at the Heys Road school, said: "We have been thinking about this for many years and have now decided to build on our successful base in the arts with the bid.

"The young people of Prestwich can only gain from this and with bids from the other two schools we are covering every aspect. We would accept help from any supporting body we can find but considering our bid is for the arts we would particularly invite sponsorship from any media group."