The Oxfordshire school that produced chart-topping band Supergrass has gained status as an arts college.

As part of its new role, Wheatley Park School in Holton, near Oxford, will receive £460,000 from the Government to buy computers and media equipment, and to hold arts and film festivals.

The 1,400-pupil school will receive a £100,000 lump sum, followed by £120,000 annually for three years. Pupils will be encouraged to study arts subjects, improve their grades and boost IT skills.

A General National Vocational Qualification in the performing arts is planned.

Much of the money will be spent on setting up computer networks, remodelling some buildings, and a TV and recording studio linked to IT suites and the Internet.

Extra staff will be employed to boost arts teaching and help supervise events and master classes outside school hours.

Schools that gain art college status also have to make their facilities available to community groups as part of the initiative.

Local bands such as Supergrass, whose members attended the school in the early 90s, would be able to use the school's recording facilities.

Extra transport links will also be laid on for members of the community.

Head teacher Nicholas Young said: "It is very exciting. We applied for art college status because our curriculum strongly featured arts, particularly music and drama.

"All the arts subjects we teach will receive a boost and the rest of the curriculum will benefit from the improved IT facilities."

Story date: Saturday 27 November

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