School looking for something special

He envisages a professional standard TV recording studio which would be used by his pupils, surrounding schools in Bolton and maybe local businesses.

But to achieve that ambition, Rumworth has to be approved for Specialist status in order to get extra Government cash.

And to kickstart the process, the school has to raise £20,000, which the Government then matches with a £100,000 grant and a further £60,000 a year for running costs over four years.

So the school's initial £20,000 is transformed into £360,000 over four years - a significant amount of money which would benefit the school immensely.

Rumworth School, formerly Woodside Senior School, is designated as a school for 140 children and teenagers aged 11 to 19 with complex needs and moderate learning difficulties.

The school, in Armadale Road, Ladybridge, has had three very successful Ofsted reports in 1996, 2000 and 2006.

In September, 2001, the school became a Beacon School and in 2004 a Leading Edge school.

Now the school wants to progress further and achieve Specialist status in the area of Communication and Interaction by 2008.

With 41 per cent of statemented students having communication difficulties, the school feels that developing the communications element would help improve pupils' communication skills.

The plan involves having the studio up and running by September, 2008, with TV standard cameras, lighting, and recording and portable equipment, all housed in a building at the rear of the school.

Mr Wilkinson is preparing the bid proposal and is keen to contact any local companies who want to ally themselves with a successful school like Rumworth.

He knows local businesses often have a lot of requests for sponsorship and understands they have finite resources.

"I believe in value for money - I don't just want cash and that's it. I want people to come to see me. We'll show them round and we can talk about what we can do for them as well," said Mr Wilkinson.

"If a company or companies helped with raising the £20,000, they could use the media suite for training or promotional purposes."

The suite would also be shared with other primary and secondary schools, including Ladybridge High, St Joseph's in Horwich, Ladybridge Primary School, Beaumont Primary School and St Mary's Primary School in Deane. Bolton Lads and Girls Club will also be involved.

"We would want to employ a full-time technician to run the video and IT side of the suite who could also be shared with other schools who only need technical help on occasion," said Mr Wilkinson.

For now, the deputy head will consolidate the application by taking advice from the Specialist Schools Trust with a view to submitting the final bid by October.

The school has been heavily involved with the BT Education Programme and has received grants and equipment from the programme, as well as using the helpful website for school resources.

As a result every classroom has an interactive whiteboard, along with digital camera and printer, which pupils and staff use to record achievements.

That means that pupil achievements can be recorded immediately they happen and a digital photograph can be sent home to their parents that night - again encouraging communication between pupils and parents.

Now children have a progress file, formerly known as a record of achievement, and the school's ambition is to have every pupil leave with a progress report and a progress DVD.

Having a fully-fledged media suite would help the school achieve its aims.

Mr Wilkinson is hoping local businesses will want to become involved in a partnership which could benefit everyone.

"We already have some links with local companies," he said. "Our pupils are painting a mural for one company and others will be helping with packaging products for another.

"Any sponsorship does not have to be for the full amount, so any help would be truly appreciated."

Mr Wilkinson can be contacted on 01024-333600, or visit the school's website on www.rumworth.co.uk