A Colchester school launches its bid today for language college status.

If successful, Thomas, Lord Audley School would get an extra £1 million over ten years for better facilities, an improved curriculum and more student opportunities.

Its initiative, involving a £50,000 privately-sourced contribution, was being outlined to potential business partners in Colchester over lunch today.

The Monkwick Avenue School, with 1,000 students, provides GCSE teaching in either French or German, and is emphasising its need to keep up with information technology.

Managers believe specialist school status would:

Widen the scope of the language department's activities

Attract high-quality staff to fill the expected additional posts

Provide funds for computers and student travel overseas

Improve pupil career options.

In the wider community, the extra Government cash would enable it to extend learning opportunities to its feeder primaries, other secondary schools, local adults and firms.

Headteacher Bob Brewster said: "There is a great deal of excitement in the school about the bid, and its success would move the school forward considerably."

Senior community manager Mick Capes added: "Focusing on languages and providing a basis for a centre of excellence will enhance the profile of the school generally.

"A language college would promote an educational culture that is international, technological and vocational."

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