A MILLION pound boost will be given to Newton Abbot's education facilities during the next four years because of one school's success. Coombeshead College will receive the extra funding after it became the only school in Devon and Cornwall to get government media arts college status. And it's thanks to the Mid-Devon Advertiser the college was able to secure the landmark status. It is now one of only 19 specialist schools in Devon. The prestigious award, one of only a handful given around the country, means the college will receive £250,000 extra funding per year for four years. And a third of that will be spent in the community among other schools in the area. The special college status is the culmination of two years of dedicated work by staff. And college principal, Richard Haigh, was delighted with the news. He said: 'I have to thank local businesses, especially the Mid-Devon Advertiser, for the support they have given us. We had to raise £50,000 in sponsorship to make our bid for the status. And local businesses backed us all the way.'
The school is also the only one in the country that offers journalism as part of its curriculum. And that, togther with its new arts media college status, makes it very special according to Mr Haigh. He added: 'This should make a big difference to the quality of the education we provide. In fact it will benefit all the primary schools in the area too. And that's fabulous. The college is the most over subscribed in south Devon. But that's a nice problem to have. This award brings many advantages. One of them being it may make the college more attractive to pupils outside the area who want to study arts.'
Charles Clarke, education secretary, gave the school a pat on the back too.
He said: 'There is a great deal to celebrate in our secondary schools with improving results and the best ever generation of teachers committed to raising standards.'