YOUNGSTERS at a city school are celebrating being awarded specialist status and setting up a training link with neighbouring Southampton Airport.

For years Bitterne Park School, in Copsewood Road, Bitterne, was blighted by low-flying aircraft over its grounds.

But when headteacher Susan Trigger approached the airport to complain she never imagined that soon they would be entering into a partnership that would also help the school achieve specialist status for performing arts.

Mrs Trigger said: "We had to reach a compromise that would benefit the community."

Together the 1,300-pupil school and airport came up with 26 initiatives including the Strategic Airport Partnership.

And because the school needed corporate backing to become a specialist school, the airport offered itself as a partner.

The collaboration means that youngsters are now able to learn more about the airport by doing work experience there.

Jan Halliday, director of communications at Southampton Airport, said they had taken on board all the complaints tabled by the school and have even banned some aircraft from flying over the area.

"The school also told us there were no major employers in the area that would support them and they needed this support from industry to become a specialist. It was through this that we joined them," she said.

At a ceremony to mark the school's new status, John Denham, Southampton Itchen MP, said: "This sort of partnership between a school and industry is something I have never seen before and has huge potential. I think it is a sign of things to come."

Year 10 pupil Michael Sears, 14, is hoping to benefit from the school's specialist status. He said: "We have new editing equipment at the school which will help me in the future."

Harrison Langdale, 15, said the airport was no longer a bother to the school and that some youngsters would benefit from the partnership.

"The airport triple glazed the windows. We hardly hear the aircraft."