Norfolk is one short of a clean sweep of high schools with specialist status after Old Buckenham High got the go-ahead to become a sports college from this week.

Norfolk is one short of a clean sweep of high schools with specialist status after Old Buckenham High got the go-ahead to become a sports college.

The south Norfolk school's success in being awarded specialist sports status by the government means Swaffham Hamond's High is the only county high school left without a specialism.

The news is the reward for many months of hard work and fund-raising to pull together the �50,000 in local sponsorship needed to support the application.

Old Buckenham High's headteacher Peter Whear said: 'We are delighted by this news. The school community has worked hard to make this happen and I should like to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved in preparing our bid and in raising the �50,000 sponsorship we needed.

'The local authority also deserves a great deal of credit for its support and encouragement.'

He added: 'The specialism will give a new focus to the strong collaboration that already exists with our local primary schools cluster and preparation for the 2012 Olympics will play a large part in what we do. Our students deserve the best and the additional specialist funding will help to further improve our facilities.'

The news comes hot on the heels of the school posting its best ever GCSE results, with 71pc of students achieving five or more A*-C grades including English and maths - up from 68pc in 2009.