PARKVIEW School in Barrow had finally won technology college status, making it the only facility of its kind between Lancaster and Carlisle, The Mail reported in 1996.
Under the Government’s specialist schools initiative Parkview had to raise £100,000 in private sponsorship in order to gain its technology college status.
In return the school was set to receive further investment of £420,000 towards equipment and materials.
Also on the cards were a 60-terminal computer network, a sound studio and computerised manufacturing machinery.
In the report, The Mail stated that the school had been given a £500 boost from the Barrow Marks and Spencer store as part of the technology college status process.
And Furness Enterprise and Cumbria Training and Enterprise Council had both pledged money.
Also in 1996 punctual Parkview pupil Lisa Monan clocked off from school with a proud record - the 16-year-old had not missed a minute of education since starting lessons 11 years previously.
And as she cleared her desk for the last time, before sitting nine GCSEs the following month, she was hailed by teachers at Parkview for her perfect attendance and punctuality.
Head of year Neil Tippins checked school records and discovered Lisa had always been present throughout her five years at Parkview.
Further investigations revealed she had not missed any days at her previous schools, Abbotsmead Infant and Junior.
That added up to more than 2,000 consecutive days and Lisa's achievement was all the more remarkable by the fact she had never been late.
Mr Tippins said Lisa would receive a special award at the school's prizegiving ceremony later in the year.
He added: "This will also be noted on her National Record of Achievement and I hope that any potential employers will be suitably impressed. This is a young woman who is always reliable."
Lisa had been lucky not to have suffered any significant illness during her school career and added: "The only time I ever got sick was in the holidays!"
Lisa planned to go to Myerscough College in Preston.
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