TWO York secondary schools were today saying "bonjour" to almost £700,000 - thanks to their specialist success.

All Saints' and Millthorpe Schools have won four-year extensions to the specialist language college status they have held for the last five years, and each has also gained a new specialism.

Education Minister Stephen Twigg confirmed that All Saints' School had been designated an arts college specialising in dance and English, and Millthorpe has been awarded science college status.

The language specialism extension will earn them each £128,000 a year, and the new specialisms will also see each school get an additional £60,000 a year for the next four years to improve facilities for the schools and their feeder primary schools.

All Saints' head teacher Bill Scriven said a lot of work had been done at the school to extend links in dance and English. The school was selected as a partner school for the Royal Ballet School's dance inclusion project.

Mr Scriven said: "This will present great opportunities for pupils and the staff have all worked extremely hard to help put this bid together."

The money will be spent refurbishing the school's dance studio and appointing a full-time dance teacher providing more extra curricular activities for the school and the wider community.

Millthorpe head Tony Wooton said: "The timing of this announcement couldn't be better, getting the two specialisms on the same day."

The money will be spent at Millthorpe updating IT technology facilities, including interactive white boards and computer facilities, and also in strengthening and improving links with primary schools and local industry.

City of York Council's executive member for education, Coun Carol Runciman, said: "I'm very pleased that these two schools have been given the opportunity to extend their specialist status."

York Labour MP Hugh Bayley, said: "York has some of the best secondary schools in the country."

Updated: 08:32 Thursday, March 03, 2005