FRED Longworth High School in Tyldesley is to take on a specialist role as an Arts College - the only one in the North of England.

It follows a successful bid to the Government for its new status, and involved raising £100,000 of business sponsorship to fund the idea.

Fred Longworth now joins the short list of only six such colleges in the country, with Tyldesley being the only one north of Northamptonshire.

It now joins the so-called 'family' of specialist schools, which includes Sports Colleges, Technology Colleges and Language Colleges.

The ambitious scheme means there is the prospect of more jobs in the school as well as more technical help, with £500,000 being promised to the school over the next three years to develop and equip the Arts facility.

A spokesperson for Fred Longworth said: "Based upon our reputation for excellence in the Arts, the Local Authority encouraged us to make a bid and supported us throughout. This support will continue as the college develops.

"There is evidence that students educated in an 'arts rich' environment perform better in all their subjects. The Arts and the technologies associated with the Arts are the fastest growing areas of employment in the North. The Arts in Britain now employ more people than the steel industry."

The cash injection will also allow Fred Longworth to extend its range of community development with dance, music, drama and art open to students of all ages, with many students enrolling at the school in the wake of the demise of the Tyldesley Centre.

The label Fred Longworth High School will stay the same, and the school will also develop a dance studio as well as developing Arts links with other schools, particularly with local primary schools."

The spokesperson added; "Arts Colleges offer young people a firm foundation in the arts by providing a rich variety of activities, facilities, courses, qualifications and opportunities for direct contact with practising professional artists and performers. Arts Colleges raise standards in teaching and learning in the arts while continuing to provide a broad education through the National Curriculum."

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