YORK'S MP took the chance to visit a city school which has been selected as one of the first schools in the country to qualify for the opportunity to develop a second specialism.

Millthorpe School, which has had specialist status as a language school since 1994, is now looking to gain the funding and prestige associated with a second specialism in science. MP Hugh Bayley visited Millthorpe on Monday to join the celebrations and to discuss with head teacher Tony Wootton how he could help support the application.

Mr Bayley said: "I'm thrilled to be able to join the celebrations at Millthorpe School.

"It's great that the hard work and dedication of the staff, students and governors is paying off, and it would be good news for us to have one of the first schools with two specialisms in the country in our community."

He added that he would continue to work to raise standards and ensure that York schools received their fair share of the Government's huge investment programme. There are only 195 specialist language schools in Britain.

They provide a balanced curriculum in line with National Curriculum guidelines, but also benefit from additional government funding and partnership with businesses.

The Government wants to make all secondary schools specialist institutions.

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, October 06, 2004