TWO city high schools were celebrating securing more than £1m for county education by achieving specialist status.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC High School was yesterday awarded maths and IT status while Nunnery Wood High School became a specialist centre for maths and science.

Both schools will receive a £150,000 lump sum - for improvements to equipment and buildings - in September, as well around £125,000 a year for the next four years.

The money will also be used to benefit the staff, feeder and partnership schools and the surrounding community.

"We are all tremendously excited about being granted specialist status in science," said Alun Williams, headteacher of Nunnery Wood.

"The status will bring welcome additional resources initially in science and mathematics, but also across the entire curriculum.

"It is also a great morale-boost for everyone associated with the school and a lift for the local community."

Sean Devlin, principal of Blessed Edward Oldcorne, in Timberdine Avenue, said the money would be a boost for all subjects.

"I am a strong believer in making sure the core subjects of English, maths and science are strong, and then building on that," he said.

"Specialist status in IT and the extra investment will allow us to put interactive whiteboards in every classroom and this will make a huge difference."

To bid for the status schools must show strong links with the community and businesses - by raising £50,000 in sponsorship - and draw up detailed plans for future development.

Nunnery Wood's application involved a 50-page document and Blessed Edward's dossier was closer to 60, with the whole process taking almost two years to complete.

Four out of five Worcester high schools have now been made centres of excellence and city MP Mike Foster said years of hard work was paying off.

"Four out of five ain't bad - but I won't start celebrating until the fifth school gets specialist status," he said.

"But for Blessed Edward and Nunnery Wood it is time to celebrate, because extra cash and greater investment will always have a beneficial impact on schools."