A school is making a desperate plea to help raise £15,000 in just five days.

Priory School in Lewes has until Wednesday to raise the £50,000 sponsorship it needs to submit a bid for specialist school status.

So far, the school has raised £35,000 towards becoming a specialist arts college.

Headteacher Martyn Ofield said: "We're so near. It would be a tragedy to miss this opportunity to bring £600,000 of Government money into the school and to risk restricting the opportunities we can offer our students in the future.

"We're appealing to all our parents, the parents of children at our partner schools and the parents of children hoping to come to Priory School in the future, to give generously in the next week.

"We're also appealing to any local businesses or organisations that think they may be able to help the school.

"Many people already have and we're very grateful. What a shame if their generosity and the hard work put in by my staff comes to nothing."

Siobhan Denning, the deputy headteacher responsible for drawing up the application, said the bid was now ready to be submitted to the Government.

She said the school felt confident of success after a consultant examined the application and pronounced it strong.

She said: "We have more than 80 per cent of our students studying an arts subject at examination level already and their results are always among the highest not only in the county but in the country as well."

The application includes plans for new courses and the building of a performing arts centre which would also be used by the local community. Resources would be extended to partner schools, which include Pells, St Pancras and Rodmell Primary Schools, St Anne's Special School and Tideway Comprehensive in Newhaven.

Anyone wishing to help, should send a cheque immediately to Friends of Priory School, Mountfield Road, Lewes, BN7 2XD.