The Harwich School is to become a specialist language school.

Education minister Estelle Morris today announced that the Hall Lane school is one of only 14 nationwide to be successful in the latest round of bids.

The Government will plough £100,000 into the school which will also receive £120 per pupil for four years. Sponsorship from the private sector will see another £50,000 pumped into the school for 11 to 16-year-olds.

Pupils, who can currently learn only German and French, will be able to study languages such as Spanish and Chinese.

The school has significantly raised its GCSE performance in modern languages. It already has links with schools in France, Germany, Sweden and the USA and these will be strengthened.

Headteacher John McAleavy said: "We are delighted. The opportunities for students and teachers to travel will be much greater, and links with schools in other countries will be much stronger.

"Electronic communication will enable this to be a day-to-day feature."

The specialist status will come into effect from April 1. Harwich MP Ivan Henderson, who helped the school bid, said: "The benefits to the community will be immense. I cannot speak highly enough of the positive approach of the Harwich School and all of its partners."

It is the latest in a long line of good news for the school, which became part of a £3 million Education Action Zone in November. Before Christmas, it was awarded more Government funding to set up out-of-hours educational schemes.

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