A GOVERNOR has vowed an under-achieving Kidderminster school will be "the best in town" when work has finished on a major revamp.

From September Harry Cheshire High School will be known as Baxter College for Business and Enterprise as part of a £700,000 county education rescue plan. pupils Ross Palmer, 14 and Lisa Griffiths, 15, show off the new uniform at what is set to become Baxter College for Business and Enterprise.

But chairman of governors Mike Dickins stressed: "It's not just a change of name, it's a change of regime and a totally new approach."

Education consultant The Three Es, which has experience of transforming the fortunes of schools across the country, has been drafted in to help in the re-launch.

Last September Harry Cheshire was judged by Ofsted inspectors to be the first under-achieving school in Worcestershire.

"We will run the whole of the school on entirely new lines," Mr Dickins said.

"There are a range of new initiatives - the dining room will be totally revamped and will eventually become a cyber cafe. And we plan to introduce a staggered day, with pupils taking breaks at different times."

Mr Dickins added: "The staff will remain but will have to work differently and adopt new methods. Some pretty tough targets will be set."

He said former head Michael Hird's resignation in December had been "unexpected" - but education bosses hope to appoint a permanent successor to start next January.

One of the candidates is Allan Gilhooley, acting head since Easter.

He said: "Since I took over it's been a back-to-basics approach - making sure staff and students know we have very high expectations."

The school aims to be accredited a business and enterprise college by October 2003, which on current student numbers would mean an extra £50,000 each year.

Mr Gilhooley said he had been surprised by the positive response of the pupils to the changes, adding they had played their part in coming up with the new uniform of black blazer and purple tie.