Postcards from the stars

When parents tried to rope some of Britain's most famous names into a school's fundraising drive, the headmaster was not hopeful.

The mothers and fathers sent out blank postcards to actors, artists, writers, cooks and architects asking for them to be decorated and returned. But, despite Richard Weeks's scepticism, the overwhelming response means Teddington School should raise the £50,000 it needs to bid for visual arts college status and lucrative grant support.

Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Ralph Fiennes and Michael Parkinson were among those who provided paintings, sketches and doodles for the comprehensive school to auction.

Mr Weeks says: "I must admit I wasn't very hopeful at the start of the exercise but I'm delighted to have been proved wrong."

The Government has invited schools to bid for special status in all academic areas provided their plans will also help the local community.

Teddington would get an extra £125,000 a year funding, but to qualify it must raise the first £50,000 by 4 October.

Among the first to respond to the parents' pleas was actress Keira Knightley, one of the stars of Bend It Like Beckham. A pupil at Teddington until last year, she drew an extravagant figure over a call sheet from her new film Dr Zhivago.

Pierce Brosnan produced a striking self-portrait in felt pen and Colin Firth sent in a detailed pencil sketch.

Original cartoons from Ralph Steadman and Ronald Searle are expected to fetch good prices as is Damien Hirst's drawing of a skull and crossbones. Other exhibits came in from Jamie Oliver, Lord Foster, William Boyd and Mike Atherton.

A painting by artist Mary Fedden has been valued at around £1,200 by Christie's.

Val Clay and Julia Myring, whose idea the postcards were, said: "Achieving special status will benefit the pupils and community enormously."

Teddington achieved a 99 per cent A-C pass rate in last year's art GCSE. It plans for an "arts bus" to tour other schools, handicapped centres and old people's homes and wants to develop a dark room, sculpture garden and graphic design facilities.

The auction will be held at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington on 6 September.