STAFF and pupils at two of the borough's secondary schools were celebrating this week having been recognised by the government for their high standards in sports and languages.

Shene School and Whitton School are the first in the borough to be awarded prestigious Specialist School Status by the Department for Education and Skills.

From September Shene School will specialise in language and Whitton will specialise in sports. Both schools will be working in close partnership and as a resource for neighbouring schools and the local community.

The council's executive member for education, Cllr Stephen Knight, said: "We are all extremely pleased that both Sheen and Whitton have succeeded in their bids for specialist school status.

"It is a good reflection of the high standard of our secondary schools across the borough and the extra resources that come with this status will help to raise standards still further."

The schools will receive extra resources to improve their facilities, which in turn will be used by workers, employers and residents in the area to improve their skills.

Shene School will put the resources towards a state-of-the-art digital laboratory where people will be able to come and learn a wide variety of languages.

Whitton School aims to forge closer links with other borough primary and secondary schools, local colleges and sports clubs.

Shene's headmistress Judith Gavers said: "I am delighted that the hard work of staff and pupils has been given this public recognition.

"We will continue to work with our partner schools to ensure the highest quality of language teaching. Our business partner, British Airways is committed to supporting Shene in its drive to ensure that the speaking of another language is seen as a key skill in this ever increasing global society."

Michael Lumley, chairman of Shene's Board of Governors, said: "To be able to communicate in more than one language is, in today's world, an increasingly important tool for career advancement.

"Shene's specialist language status will not only enable the school's young adults to reap the benefits of first class language teaching but will enrich the whole school environment by bringing extra resources into every classroom."

Richmond Park MP Dr Jenny Tonge congratulated Shene on their achievement. She said: "Hopefully, the community element of the language college programme run by Shene will ensure that partner schools and the wider community benefit from the improved facilities Shene School provide.

"This is just more proof that the schools in Richmond and Kingston area are of an extremely high standard. We should be proud of the teachers and students who help make them the good schools they are.''

Whitton School headmistress Sue Raynor said: "I am absolutely thrilled at the news. Whitton School is the first Richmond school to gain specialist sports college status.

"The bid was a huge amount of work but it means significant extra resources for the school and the development of sports in the borough. We will be able to offer a wider range of sports and health related opportunities for our students both within normal lessons and through the extra curricular programme.

"We will also be able to build a resource facility equipped with computers and video cameras, develop a community sports reception area and purchase new mini buses.

"The community will also benefit enormously as we will be able to form greater links with our borough primary and secondary schools, local colleges and sports clubs.

"First and foremost, I am delighted that Whitton School students will be able to benefit from our success."