A SCHOOL is aiming to raise £50,000 in its bid to gain specialist status.

Huntcliff School, in Marske Mill Lane, Saltburn, aims to become a humanities college in March, 2005.

Humanities is the most recently introduced element of the specialist schools programme and Huntcliff School aims to place the emphasis on English, history and geography.

The school will need to raise £50,000, which will then trigger additional government funding of £360,000 over four years.

Headteacher Ruth Headdon believes the school is well-placed to fulfil the role as a humanities college.

"The school already makes use of the local environment, museums and existing community groups to learn from and contribute to the society we work in," she said.

She added that the goal could not be achieved without the support of the local community and businesses.