HURWORTH Comprehensive School is celebrating after reaching the £50,000 fundraising target it needs to apply for specialist status.

The school's bid to become a mathematics and technology college is to be submitted to the Government today.

If successful, the school will receive almost £500,000 to spend on developing the curriculum, for both pupils and the community.

The school has spent the past six months raising the money, and confirmation that the target has been reached came yesterday with a £20,000 grant from the Tees Valley Training and Enterprise Council.

Headteacher Ed Farrer said he was "over the moon" that the target had been reached, adding: "When we set off the biggest concern was whether we would raise the money needed. You would think it would be about getting the quality of the bid up to the standard required, but raising £50,000 in six months is very hard.

"We thought we might face a situation where we ended up writing an excellent bid, but without having the money."

Cash for the bid has come from several sources, including local businesses, past and present pupils, parents and staff. The school thanked everyone who has contributed. It will find out in March if its bid has been successful - if so, it will become a specialist school by next September.

Mr Farrer said: "It will mean a huge amount if we get it, not just for the status, but for academic reasons and that is what we are all getting excited about."