BANBURY'S Frank Wise Special School is one step nearer to having a new state-of-the-art technology centre, thanks to a £12,000 donation from a company that finds employment for disabled people.

The cash was raised at Remploy's annual golf day and work on the ITC suite is expected to start early next year.

More than 130 Remploy employees, suppliers, and customers from around the country teed off at Wychwood Golf Club near Chipping Norton.

They were supported by Remploy service providers, including main sponsors and insurance specialists Aon, Allianz Cornhill, and Mitsui Sumitomo.

The year's golf day marked an ongoing relationship between Banbury-based Remploy and the school.

Last year, Remploy contributed more than £7,000 so that pupils, all with learning disabilities, could experience an extensive programme of day and residential trips.

Guy Phillips, Remploy's company secretary and a golf day organiser, said: "We are so impressed with the work that Frank Wise School is doing that it was a unanimous decision to support them again.

"The school enables children with special needs to have more equality of opportunity, which is the same as Remploy's objectives. We're delighted to have raised so much, which we hope will broaden the experiences on offer."

Sean O'Sullivan, Frank Wise deputy headteacher, said: "We are aiming to bid for £100,000 of funding from the Specialist Schools Trust but we have to raise a certain amount of money from local businesses first.

"Remploy has agreed that their cash can be used for that purpose, and we are hopeful that it will generate more money for us to provide out new centre.

"We are thrilled with the money they raised at what must have been a tremendously successful event."