At a Ceremony at The Friary School in Lichfield on Friday night (12th December) where Michael Fabricant presented awards to students who had returned to the School from university and from work, headteacher, John Brough, announced to parents and students that the School will be applying to be made a Joint Specialist School in the Arts and Sports. If it succeeds, it could become a specialist school in September 2005. Michael Fabricant says "I have offered the School all my support in its bid for specialist status. Given the raw deal that Staffordshire schools get, this would be a very valuable prize providing an additional 6 figure income to the School annually if it is successful. The School already enjoys an excellent reputation in both the arts and sports".

The Awards Presentation was made to around a hundred students who returned specially to the School after leaving this summer.

Photograph shows Michael Fabricant awarding Gemma Field with the Godfrey Cup for Geography. Gemma gained A levels in English, Geography, Mathematics, and AS Chemistry and is now reading Geography and Planning at The University of Birmingham.