Bowland is a school with a difference. It is one of the smallest secondary schools in the county set in arguably the most picturesque rural location in the North.

Its size means all pupils are known by all staff and a real family community spirit prevails. It means the school can achieve high standards in behaviour, uniform and academic attainment. This caring, traditional ethos has meant that in 2001 the number of parents seeking a place at the school has doubled.

The school has 382 pupils and it is certain that this will rise to over 400 in September. The flexibility within the curriculum means that the school can cater for individual abilities. Some pupils can, for example, leave school with the equivalent of 13 GCSE's and conversely some pupils will study much fewer GCSE's and have additional vocational qualifications.

HISTORY LESSON: The traditional values and individuality of the school stems from the school's history. Originally part of Yorkshire, the school, known as Riversmead, has a chequered history, formerly being the Hydro House Hotel, a National Children's Home and even a refugee camp for Austrian citizens, who incidentally return on an annual basis. Riversmead became a school over 50 years ago. The original building has been sympathetically complemented by a new £1.5million building programme.

STAR STUDENTS: In 2001, the GCSE and SATS results were outstanding and were a school record. Over 64 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C grades, but, more importantly, 100 per cent of all school leavers left with at least five A*-G GCSE grades. Over 80 per cent of students continue into further education.

OUT AND ABOUT: Bowland High School is very much a "hub" of the local rural community. For example last week alone, the school transported, cooked for and entertained more than 80 senior citizens at the annual Christmas party, held a candlelight carol service and entertained the townspeople of Clitheroe in Tesco. Adult education classes take place in the evening and the school works in partnership with the Youth and Community group in offering a place at school for young people from the rural villages to meet, with transport provided.

SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT: This year has been an outstanding year in the school's history. An excellent Ofsted report highlighting the excellent quality of teaching, the prevalent community of ethos of the school and the excellent behaviour and attitude of the pupils' complemented this year's examination results. The school is also in the midst of a massive new building investment which has seen the creation of three new science labs, a new art room, a new food technology room, a new music room and a number of new classrooms. By June 2002 a further modern language suite, design technology suite and dance/drama studio will have been developed. Plans are already afoot for a new sports complex for 2003.

The improvement in the accommodation, the continuing standards of academic excellence with the guarantee that the school will not get much bigger, has led to massive over-subscription. Over 1,000 people attended the Open Evening in October.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH £100,000?: The new buildings have had massive inputs of new technological teaching and learning aids installed so we would like to continue to develop there, probably increasing laptop computer provision for pupils to make ICT more portable. We would also increase staffing to keep the class sizes small and to help maintain our community, friendly, family ethos.