The Causeway School has elected to specialise in English, history and drama — subjects that currently demonstrate high teaching standards at the school.

To be successful in its application to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Causeway School needs to raise £50,000.

This will entitle the school to capital funding of £100,000 from the government, and recurrent funding for the next three years.

Jim Edgar, managing director of CMS, said, "As a local business, we believe it is important to support the local community.

"We take particular pride in sponsoring initiatives to improve the educational facilities in our hometown, and hope that our contribution to the Causeway School leads them to achieve Specialist School status."

Alison Dearden, headteacher of The Causeway, added, "We are delighted that CMS has sponsored us for the Specialist School bid.

"The support from CMS will lead us to greater achievement as a school and increased educational opportunities for our pupils.

"With the funds raised, we would like to build a new library to house a museum dedicated to providing a history of the local area.

"Not many people realise, but the Causeway School sits on the site of a Bronze Age settlement with excavated artefacts currently on display at the British Museum."

Specialist School status will also allow Causeway School to help local primary schools raise standards in humanities, and to offer additional support to local community groups by providing literacy courses for adults.

The Causeway School's current funds stand at £29,299, and the deadline for applications is this September.