A Coventry school is celebrating after it won unique status as a specialist art college.

Foxford School and Community College in Grange Road, Longford has been given £750,000 by the government to develop its facilities in both the visual and the performing arts.

It is extremely rare for schools to be given the chance to specialise in both these fields.

And the school was able to show off its achievements to Culture Secretary Chris Smith MP when he visited the studios earlier this week.

Detailed plans will now be drawn up over the summer for new state-of-the-art facilities.

These will include a new sculptural and fabrication studio, music practice rooms, recording facilities and digital imaging equipment.

Head of Creative Arts Hugh Davies said the school was thrilled to receive the special status, particularly as it had managed to raise £50,000 in sponsorship to support the bid.

He said pupils at the school had a long record of being involved with artistic projects such as the blue ribbon on the Foleshill roundabout, and some of the public art along the Coventry canal.

He said:

“All the normal subjects are taught with the same aim of raising achievement, but the arts will be the main focus.

“Chris Smith looked at a lot of work by individual students and commented on the wide range and scope of what was available for them.

“He was interested in what we could do from here.”

Community groups and schools in the Longford area will also benefit from the extra facilities as they will be made available to a wider range of people.

Mr Davies added:

“It’s a very exciting time for the school. We are very pleased with what has happened.”