A JUNIOR school has succeeded in its bid for extra funding to help strengthen links with a nearby independent school.

An existing partnership between Holy Trinity CE School, Ripon, and Malsis School, near Keighley, has been awarded a further £39,000 as part of the Building Bridges scheme.

The Department for Education and Skills funding is designed to strengthen the ties between state and independent schools.

Holy Trinity is leading the joint development, which has been ongoing since initial funding of just over £30,000.

Headteacher Malcolm Price said it was a very successful partnership.

"The project works to target areas that each school feels needs developing and where the schools can learn from each other," he said.

"While the two schools are very different, our aims and ethos are very similar and we work well together."

Despite being an hour's travelling apart, the schools hold a number of joint events throughout the year, including musical concerts and drama days, and they operate a pen pal system via the Internet.

The additional funding will develop the arts and science facilities and the schools will have joint exhibitions and trips.

"It is an interesting experience for the children to see that state and independent schools are very different, yet can learn so much from each other," said Mr Price.