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ITEM EX14 -

ANNEX A

EXECUTIVE – 22 JANUARY 2002

SPECIALIST SCHOOL STATUS

 

The Specialist School Scheme: An Introduction

  1. This scheme was originally introduced by the last Conservative government. It began with Technology Colleges and was open to Grant Maintained schools only, ie schools which had chosen to leave their LEA.

  2. Subsequently the scheme was widened with the addition of Languages, Sports and Arts specialisms, and opened to all secondary schools.

  3. The focus also shifted so that there was much more emphasis on partnership working with other schools, both primary and secondary. A community development plan became an important part of every application.

  4. The White Paper 2001 added specialisms in Mathematics & Computing, Science, Business & Enterprise, and Engineering. The first applications for these will be in March 2002.

  5. The current target is for 1500+ secondary schools to have specialist status by 2006. There are currently over 600, with a target of that rising to over 1000 in the next year (there are about 4000 secondary school altogether).

  6. The basis of the scheme is this. A school making an application has to:

    • raise £50,000 in donations, some but not all of which has to come from the private sector;

    • write a school development plan setting targets for the next four years. This is likely to include, for example:

    • participation rates in the specialist subject(s);

    • examination results in the specialist subject;

    • introduction of new courses;

    • curriculum enrichment and extra-curricular activities;

    • professional development activity;

    • targets for literacy and numeracy and standards generally;

    • write a community development plan, which could include:

    • work with partner primary and secondary schools;

    • work with community groups (clubs, societies, individuals);

    • offering lifelong learning opportunities in the specialist area;

    • consult widely and provide evidence of support from the local community, local authorities, the business community.

  1. The school submits its application in a competition, generally held twice a year. Successful schools receive:

    • the status of specialist school the following school year;

    • a one-off £100,000 capital grant in the first year to add to the £50,000 for a capital project;

    • £123 per pupil annually for 4 years, ie £123,000 pa for a secondary school of 1000 (there are some technical variations here but that is broadly the picture);

    • the continuation of their status into a fourth year if they are on track to reach their targets;

    • the opportunity to apply for a further period of 3 years with new development plans (but no further need for fundraising).

Notes:

    1. Schools in Special Measures or Serious Weaknesses may not apply;

    2. Schools whose standards appear to be declining are unlikely to be successful;

    3. Specialist schools may select up to 10% pupils by aptitude in the specialist area; no Oxfordshire schools have done this and only 7% specialist schools nationally. Schools can and do remain fully comprehensive community schools providing the full National Curriculum; the effect of specialist status on the curriculum can be quite small.

 

Pat O’Shea

January 2002

 

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