A "MASSIVE" day for Christopher Whitehead High School saw it become a specialist language college and move closer to ending the five-year saga over a new site.

The St John's high school was told it had achieved language status, after three years of trying, and Schools Standards Minister Stephen Twigg promised to visit in February to examine the options for a new school.

The announcements were made at 10 Downing Street yesterday, as headteacher Neil Morris was personally thanked by Tony Blair for his school's work in the community.

"It was a massive, massive day for Christopher Whitehead," he said. "It is the best thing that has happened to the school in 10 years.

"It will change the ethos and provide us with much-needed funding, which will make a difference to every aspect of the school."

The Bromwich Road school, which needs extensive repairs or a new building altogether, should collect around £250,000 thanks to specialist status.

However, Mr Morris was equally delighted that the "will they, won't they" debate over whether the school will relocate away from St John's was finally moving forward.

"We (Neil Morris and Mr Twigg) had a good 10 minutes over what has been a long debate," he said.

"I managed to persuade him to come out and look at the school in February."

Mr Morris also met Education Secretary Ruth Kelly during the reception, in London, for public servants across the country who were being hailed for serving their communities.

"I also managed to put a point across about Worcestershire's funding levels," he said.

"I just said that if I had the same school in Birmingham I would have an extra £500,000 a year to spend."

With the specialist status cash, he will appoint a director of languages as well as recruit another teacher.

Christopher Whitehead's 25 feeder primary schools will benefit as children as young as seven will be offered the chance to learn a language from high school staff.