THE first national conference for specialist science colleges is to take place in York this week.

Delegates from all over the country will be attending the two-day conference, which is the first of its kind, tomorrow and Friday.

It will be based at the Le Meridien Hotel and will be a chance for head teachers and subject leaders to meet up, hear of cutting-edge developments in science and mathematics and swap ideas

The conference will also involve a visit by the delegates to York's science college, Archbishop Holgate's School, which was given the status last year.

Head teacher John Harris said he was delighted the delegates would be visiting the school.

He said: "We are looking forward to welcoming our visitors and sharing with them something of what we do and learning from their experience as specialist colleges."

The delegates will also visit Smith & Nephew, York, the Samuel Smith Brewery, Tadcaster, and the National Railway Museum, York.

The visits will be followed by an evening drinks reception, an official opening by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton, and a gala dinner at the Le Meridien Hotel.

Professor John Holman, of the University of York's Science Education Group, will give the keynote speech on Friday.

There will also be a talk about cryptography by author, BBC presenter and former producer and director of Tomorrow's World, Simon Singh. On Friday delegates will have a chance to join brainstorming sessions on maths and science.

There are currently 24 existing Science Colleges in the country, but last month a further 40 were designated with three combined bids including science and arts.

The schools provides the full national curriculum with a special focus on science, not just to those at the school, but also others in the area. Archbishop Holgate's School was given the title in July last year and received £100,000 to upgrade facilities as well as £123 per pupil for four years.

Updated: 08:52 Wednesday, March 12, 2003