A SCHOOL'S fundraising campaign to bolster its bid for arts college status has today been reached, four months ahead of the deadline.

Portland's Royal Manor School, which is hoping to become a centre of excellence for the arts to raise standards and boost its cultural profile, will net more than £500,000 to recruit more teachers, build new facilities and increase its community links if the bid is successful.

The 800-pupil secondary school appealed to the business community in March to support its bid by October, but island firms stumped up £50,000 sponsorship in no time.

The pledges have delighted headteacher Paul Green who will now set about writing the bid with his deputy, Robert Russell.

Mr Green said: "What is particularly impressive about this is that everyone who has contributed works on Portland.

"The patronage is unconditional - businesses will not see their names or logos promoted on any literature.

"By showing support, businesses are sharing our vision and putting their money where their mouth is."

He added: "The £50,000 sponsorship means we are now in the game, but out of all the specialist college bids, only 25 per cent are successful.

"When submitting the bid we have to show a school development plan, a community development plan and the fact that local business and industry is behind us."

Mr Green said if the bid is successful, pupils will have access to far greater resources as there will be a strong focus on the performing arts and cultural issues and links with arts providers, schools and colleges.

But he said the school's key role would be to raise standards in the core subjects.

The school would also receive a £100,000 capital development grant, £123 per pupil every year for four years plus the opportunity to apply for a lottery grant to fund the building of a new multi-purpose community theatre.

The bid for Specialist School Status as an arts college must be submitted to the Department for Education and Employment by October.

"People still talk about the visit to Portland by the Royal Shakespeare Company 12 years ago.

"We want to be able to get people talking about a great cultural event on the island every year," Mr Green added.