A CHORLEY high school could this autumn become a shining example to others after being included in £1.8 million government plans for a network of nationwide 'beacons'.

Parklands High, Southport Road, is in the running for beacon school status which would earn it up to £50,000.

Up to 100 of the elite schools are about to be created throughout the country.

The Department for Education and Employment said they will be seen as centres of excellence, committed to sharing their success secrets and helping to raise standards.

Announcing the plans, schools standards minister Stephen Byers, said: "Beacon schools will have a key role in boosting standards. They will help prevent less successful schools foundering on the rocks of failure.

"They will also act as a guiding light or others to follow, by representing examples of best practice in areas such as numeracy, literacy, tackling disaffection, or overall performance.

Parklands is one of just 14 schools in the North West recognised for the award.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.