FOLLOWING a successful bid to achieve Technology College status, staff from Hollins High School in Accrington will join sponsors and partner schools for a power breakfast in Accrington today.

The meeting will be held at Horizon's Restaurant at the town's Globe Centre, where Hollins High headteacher Frank Havard will give a presentation.

Hollins High was awarded the prestigious status in January, after raising £50,000 in sponsorship from local and national companies and organisations including Caligen Foam, Greyhound Ford, Le Profil Industries, North Lancs Training and W Holland and Sons.

The school will officially open its doors as the Hollins Technology College in September and over the next four years will receive £500,000 to develop special subjects such as design and technology, maths and information and communication technology.

Businesses, schools and local people will be able to take advantage of the new initiative, which will see investment poured into the Hollins Lane site and partner schools including Accrington and Rossendale College, Mount Carmel RC High, Broadfield Special School, Baxenden CE Primary, Peel Park Primary, Springhill Primary and Woodnook Primary schools.

School liaison officer Hazel Wilkinson explained: "The breakfast meeting is a chance for everyone who was involved in the bid to get together and discuss where we go from here.

"It is further step towards closer working between all the partners."