THE link between the music department at Rush Croft School and its information technology department impressed Chingford MP Iain Duncan Smith when he toured the secondary.

Taking time off from his job as Conservative Party leader, he commented: "I was impressed to be shown the way that IT is now being harnessed to enable students to compose and record their own pieces as part of the GCSE music examination course.

"The expertise shown by these young people in using the computer-controlled system was very good.

"I was pleased that traditional instruments were also remaining popular, with students learning to play the cello, piano, violin, brass and woodwind instruments as part of their course as well as using the modern technology."

Mr Duncan Smith said that it was important for MPs to keep in touch with what is happening in education and the best way to do that was by meeting people in the classroom.

At Rush Croft, he was interested in the way the governing body is considering ways of capitalising on its new physical education facilities and reputation for sport to explore whether the school should become a specialist sports college.

Patricia Cutler, head teacher at the school in Rushcroft Road, Chingford, said: "The past few years have seen more than £3 million invested in new teaching facilities aimed at giving our students the edge over others when it comes to success in examination courses as well as in college and employment applications.

"The sports college specialist status is another example of this innovative thinking.

"Success in becoming a specialist school would release around £500,000 in extra funding to be spent across the curriculum to provide additional teachers and facilities for our students."