A SCHOOL has enlisted the help of its MP and former pupils to launch a bid for specialist status this week.

Branksome School, in Darlington, hopes to receive about £150,000 of extra investment by becoming a specialist business and enterprise college.

The school hopes to raise £50,000 in private sponsorship by October and, if successful, will be awarded £100,000 by the Government.

Headteacher Linda Hartley said: "It's one of the new specialities and the reason we have chosen it is that it can apply to the whole curriculum, rather than one area.

"Resources can be spread across all areas, rather than just one specialist area, which is far more attractive to parents."

The bid is being launched at the school on Friday. Darlington MP Alan Milburn will launch it, with a speech and former pupil John Lawrence, now a Look North television presenter, will also be lending his support.

Mrs Hartley said: "Friday is the big launch. We're putting up a big marquee and we've invited just about every business we can think of. The reason for the marquee is that one of the aims is to try to build a business and enterprise centre on that site. It will be not only for the school, but for the whole community as well."

Branksome, which has just been given a School Achievement Award from the Government for the second time, will be holding several sponsored events in an effort to raise the money.

Mrs Hartley said: "There will be all sorts of sponsored events in school are we are hoping that businesses will sign up because they will have a very important part to play in the development of the college."

If the bid is successful, Mrs Hartley hopes the extra cash will help raise standards and enable it to become a focus for the whole community.

She said: "The school's already had a big progress in results and these extra resources should improve that.

"We are going to become the hub of the local community and we are hoping that the school will be able to open almost on an extended day, from 8am to 8pm.