Families are being urged to help in a last-ditch bid to raise £27,000 so a school can become a top language centre.

Governors and staff at Holy Family School in Keighley have less than eight weeks to find the cash and meet the deadline to win language college status. Before the Government will pump funds into the project, Holy Family must raise £100,000.

So far 100 families have pledged sums between £4 and £24 and one Keighley firm has donated £10,000. But a further 100 families have said they are unable to help financially.

Deputy head teacher Sean Gilligan is now appealing to the other 300 families for a last big effort and has sent out a newsletter to every one, asking for support. "If each of these families was to pledge £10 a month until August 2000 it would yield £57,000; well in excess of our target.''

If the school wins approval, the Government will provide an extra £100,000 for capital projects, which Holy Family intends to spend on building an extra floor on one of the teaching blocks. And for the next three years the school will get £100 a pupil to spend on running the language college and buying up-to-the minute equipment.

Head teacher Conor Davis said: "We have to submit a plan on how we are going to raise standards in the next three years. It is monitored very closely and if we don't reach the mark we could lose the funding."

Meanwhile, a series of events has been planned to help swell the fund. It includes a raffle at St Joseph's Parish Church, Keighley, organised by former pupil Jason Davis. Bradford and Bingley Building Society has agreed to match the amount he raises. There are over 40 prizes and tickets are 20p. You can ring Jason on (01535) 603967.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.