A MEDWAY school has become the first in the county to be awarded specialist status in two subjects.

Three months of working on an application by staff at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in Rochester, has now paid off and now the Government has announced it had been granted specialist status in mathematics and information computer technology.

It is one of 79 schools which have now become centres of excellence, bringing the total in the country to 684.

Head teacher Keith Williams said: "I'm delighted to be awarded the specialist school status and pleased with the hard work of the staff in achieving it. It enhances the school's name and will mean we can offer further development in these subjects.

We have to continue to meet high targets and will have to reapply in four years' time to retain it."

The school had to raise £50,000 in just three months to complete the application, sent in march to the Government who will add a further £100,000 to their improvements.

More than 100 letters were sent to former pupils, companies and individuals who have supported the school in the past to raise the money - only private sector money could be secured to ensure the application was accepted.

Mr Williams is hoping to increase the pass rates in the two subjects from 93 per cent in A-Level maths and from 98 per cent in computing to 100 per cent in each by next year.

The specialist school status will give him the power to select up to 10 per cent of pupils on aptitude.

He said: "They are very high targets but we feel we can achieve them and will have the extra facilities and support to do so now."

Further maths pupil, 17-year-old Chris Coomber said: "I'm looking forward to working with other schools and meeting people in the community who will also benefit from the school gaining this specialist status."

Head of maths Sarah Sword, who helped complete the application with Mr Williams and head of ICT Chris Loizou will be involved in offering evening classes to the community. She said: "We will be inviting people from the local community into the school to learn basic numeracy and improve their skills.

"There will be classes for people to come and join to further their maths and computing skills."

Mr Loizou said: "It is difficult to get the feeder primary schools to the same levels before they arrive here. The specialist status will enable us to really establish the subject of ICT and it is very important for children to learn these skills."

The school is one of 33 in the new wave to be granted specialist status in maths and IT Ð a further 18 will concentrate on language and 12 on arts. The announcement means the Government has now exceeded its target of creating 650 by September.