AN innovative Adopt a School scheme has got off to a flying start in Bury.

The town's Derby High school has been partnered with Radcliffe-based business O2.

And the link-up, pioneered by Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership, will boost Derby's bid to be awarded specialist school status.

The high school is hoping to achieve specialist Science and Arts status which, if successful, will make it the first and only school in the nation to combine these two disciplines as a speciality.

Alyson Byrne, headteacher says "The Derby High school is in the process of launching a bid to become a science and arts specialist school and we couldn't be more delighted to be partnered with a forward looking company like O2.

"We are looking forward to planning enterprising developments in the near and long term future and I am sure this will bring a great deal of benefits to both the school and the wider community."

Matt Baron, head of member service for Dumers Lane-based O2, further endorsed the project.

He said: "We are delighted to be participating in the Adopt a School programme and to have been given the chance to work with Derby High.

"As a company at the forefront of modern technological developments, we are ideally linked with the Derby High in their quest for specialist science and arts status."

The Adopt a School project, which originated in Memphis, Tennessee more than 20 years ago, was launched in style at a major conference in March at which the Education Business Partnership unveiled plans to work with a number of schools and employers in the first year.

Speakers from Nottingham schools and businesses, (the UK's first Adopt a School area), helped inspire an audience of nearly 400 business people and schools all who were keen to find out more about the new initiative.

Since that conference, 14 links have been set up across Bolton and Bury.

Local schools taking part are Derby High, Coney Green High, Bury Church C of E High, Woodhey High, Fishpool Infants, East Ward Primary and Chantlers Primary.

Local businesses and employers involved in the scheme include O2, Mill Gate Shopping Centre, the Inland Revenue, Keoghs, and the Halifax Building Society.

Over the coming months, meetings will take place between the headteachers and the businesses and an action plan will be drawn up that suits both parties needs. This major initiative will bring much needed resources to schools by way of business volunteers.