Skipton Girls' High School has changed its bid for specialist language status and now hopes to become one of the first all girls schools in the country to win engineering status.

Headteacher Janet Renou said that the school's bid for specialist language status had never been submitted and that starting at the school in September had given her a chance to look at the school's strengths and plan for its future. She thought the strengths lay in maths, science and technology and after speaking to staff and governors thought engineering status would be a "bold, radical challenge" for the school.

She thought science and technology were popular subjects possibly because the pupils were not inhibited by boys in the traditionally male-dominated subjects. Currently there are two A-level physics classes, two for chemistry and three for biology.

She said that science and technology industries were becoming popular career choices for pupils and thought the school should help challenge stereotypes that still prevented many girls from following these paths.

Opportunities to study languages at the school will not be altered and already innovative work within languages is drawing extra government funding.

"There are three reasons why we have decided to set our sights on obtaining special status in engineering," said Mrs Renou.

"The first is that it builds on the existing strengths of the school in mathematics and science. Inspectors have highlighted this strength at the school and it makes lots of sense to use it as a foundation.

"In the second place this school is in the business of expanding opportunities for girls and women. Increasingly we see women aiming for top jobs in business, the professions, public service and even government. We want to give Skipton girls a real chance to compete for every kind of job - especially skills the country is crying out for.

"Finally we believe this will be good for Craven. We all recognise the dangers of over-dependence on farming and tourism. We need to get small businesses of every sort into the area and to expand local employment opportunities as well as the attractions of Craven for investment."

Specialist status would bring the school a one-off capital grant of £100,000 and £123 per pupil funding initially for four years.

With the funding the school plans to enhance the teaching of science, maths and technology to show how they fit into the world of engineering, both within SGHS and in the wider community.

SGHS needs to find £50,000 sponsorship and its plans have already attracted support from many areas.

Partners already include the University of Edinburgh, Rolls Royce Plc, Landis Lund, Skipton Properties and Skipton Building Society.

Isabel Stephenson, from the engineering department at the University of Edinburgh, said the girls who went into engineering did well and often went on to study for PHDs. "It is slowly a growth area and we would encourage a scheme like this," she said.

She added that people were slowly learning that anything which took raw materials and processed it into something else was engineering and that it was not all about heavy manufacturing.

An open day for prospective sponsors and pupils' parents will be held on February 27.