The Causeway School excels in Spanish and its Ofsted report stressed that the subject is one of the most popular offered.

The school is asking any local business people who care about linguistic skills among the young, and particularly the owners of Spanish restaurants in the area, to help them financially and so throw the trip a lifeline.

There is a shortfall of £6,000 and staff are concerned that some of the most able linguists come from less affluent homes and may lose out on the trip. It is hoped that 100 pupils will make the journey.

The trip is for year seven students (11-12 year-olds) and the school intends to feature it both as a run-up to the holiday itself and in follow-up work modules.

Sarah Doyle of the Causeway said, "For some of the youngsters this could be literally the one time in their lives that they go abroad. And to go to Europe and use a language they are studying is an opportunity we don't want them to miss.

"Some of our pupils with special needs do particularly well with Spanish and we want them to have the chance to socialise on the Spanish coast."

In past years the trip itinerary has been based near Barcelona with the youngsters staying at a beach location hotel in Lloret de Mar and making trips to the Nou Camp (home of Barcelona FC) as well as a museum celebrating Salvador Dali. The Dali trip has been a highlight on previous journeys and of course sees arts and languages cross over.

Many parents are simply not in a position to finance the tour.

The Causeway will be organising fund-raising activities later in the year with the trip envisaged for the second week of June, the ideal number of participants being 100.

Appeals have been made to ferry operators, the Chamber of Commerce and the Spanish Embassy but businesses in Eastbourne may prove the key. Sarah Doyle can be contacted at the school on 01323 465700.