Secondary schools in two less well-off areas of north Durham are looking forward to a rich future after achieving 'specialist' status.

Deerness Valley School, at Ushaw Moor, near Durham, has become the country's first 'business, technology and enterprise college', while Moorside Community College, Consett, has been designated with 'technology' status.

Both schools will receive £100,000 Government funding to improve facilities, plus an extra £129 per pupil for the next four years.

It caps an outstanding year for Deerness Valley School, following a favourable Ofsted inspection report, as well as winning national 'Pathfinder' status for developing pupils' job prospects in a 'Fit for Employment' scheme, run in conjunction with the Esh Group of companies.

It led to an endorsement by Prime Minister Tony Blair for the efforts of head teacher Anne Lakey and staff.

Specialist status will see the school's information technology equipment enhanced to state-of-the-art levels, with a new business innovation centre built on site, available for use by feeder primary schools.

Mrs Lakey said: "Students, staff and community are delighted by the difference this will make to the school.

"The Lower Deerness Valley deserves the best quality education facilities and opportunities, and with our newly-designated status."

Moorside will use its extra resources as part of a four-year plan to improve teaching of technology, science and maths, as well as enhance community education in its new neighbourhood learning centre.

Head teacher Jonathan Morris said: "We're delighted to have been given this recognition of our good work.

"It's been a real team effort involving staff, students, parents, partner primary schools, the local authority, community groups and sponsors from the business world."

He pledged it will see local youngsters attending, "a real school for the future", from September.

Durham's education director Keith Mitchell heralded the awards, two of six announced in the county this week.

He described it as, "excellent news", building on the county's best-ever attendance levels and GCSE results this year.

It means 27 of the county's 36 secondary schools now have specialist status, among the highest proportions for any education authority in the country.