NO ONE can deny that Pershore High School is a busy place. Every week, the achievements of its pupils and coverage of the activities on offer feature in the Evening News.

It's one of those places where if you stand still you will be volunteered for something.

The school, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this academic year, is classed as a Beacon School and Technology College.

As well as fancy titles and the envy of other schools, Beacon status brings £40,000 a year, and the responsibility of sharing good practice with the community around them.

Pershore High became a Beacon School in September 2001 and is one of three in the county - the others are The Chase in Malvern and Haybridge High School near Hagley.

The extra cash is not just for Pershore High School pupils - it will be used to fund projects that will benefit schools in the surrounding areas as well.

"We have this money and we have areas of expertise," said headteacher Clive Corbett.

"We have to ask ourselves how we can work together so that everyone benefits.

"I've been here a long time and in the late 1980s and early 1990s there was a spirit of competition between schools, with things like league tables. They were clearly designed to make schools look at their performance and compete with each other. But now we are sharing things like good practice."

As a Beacon School, Pershore High must have a partner establishment which is in different circumstances.

Elgar Technology College in Worcester has linked up with them and has been involved in a number of initiatives.

Last summer, there was a "learn to learn" day for Year 10 and 11 pupils, where we went through learning skills, techniques and preferred learning styles," said Mr Corbett.

"In a return trip, our special needs

co-ordinator and learning support

co-ordinator have spent some time there to benefit from their experience. It's a

two-sided thing.

"There was also a day in the summer where we teamed up with Haybridge High in Hagley to hold a challenge day for able and gifted pupils from Worcestershire schools.

"We're already working on a different activity for this summer, which will be drama-based and involve as many secondary schools as possible."

As well as days for the secondary school pupils, there are also opportunities for staff to attend different courses and join up with teachers from other schools.

There are also links with feeder schools, such as French lessons and art projects in first schools and sports events in middle schools.

"We're now working more closely with the Vale of Evesham School, which might seem strange for a high school, but we'll benefit each other," said Mr Corbett.

"In September, we will release an information and communication technology teacher for an afternoon each week. They will deliver a course for youngsters at the Vale of Evesham.

"In return, our special needs co-ordinator has established links there so that things such as learning techniques can be developed.

"The only bad news is that nationally the Beacon School programme ends in summer of 2005. We currently get £40,000 a year, which allows us to pay for these activities.

"It means that we'll be at the end of our Beacon money. In its place will be a scheme called the Advanced Schools Scheme.

"My only concern is that the first details the Government has given us are that there will be limited numbers included in the scheme. That's regrettable as none of the beacon schools have showered money on themselves.

"We'll find out in April if we've been successful, but I'm determined to find some way to keep these activities.

"If we hadn't had Beacon status, we would have remained inward looking."

As a technology college the school has taken its expertise into feeder schools and been able to invest in all kinds of technology.

Pupils at the Station Road school are able to use the CAD-CAM machines (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) as well as scan images that can be attached automatically by sewing machines.

"The great effect of having both Beacon and Technology College status is that we've been able to do a lot more with other schools," said Mr Corbett.

"Our relationships have got better. What would be better though, would be if the Government gave a lot more money to schools to be earmarked for these activities."