Specialist school status landmark reached

28 June 2005

Three quarters of Derbyshire’s secondary schools have specialist status following the latest round of Government announcements.

From September a further eight schools in Derbyshire will specialise in one subject, bringing the total up to 37 of the county’s 47 secondary schools.

The latest schools to obtain the status are: 

• Friesland School in Sandiacre – arts. The school will promote music, dance and drama within the school and the local community. As part of the project music therapy will be offered on a one-to-one basis for pupils with special educational needs, as well as to people at the Treetops Hospice and a secure unit in Stapleford. The school will also spend £400,000 to build improved music, drama and dance facilities in their performing arts centre. 
• Glossopdale Community College in Glossop – arts. The college’s hall will be converted to include better lighting, sound systems and seating and a gym will be converted into a dance studio. Technology will be used to support arts lessons, such as using computers to help compose music. The college will also work with its feeder schools to improve arts provision in local primary schools.
• Highfields School in Matlock – arts. The project will see the school’s performing arts facilities used in and out of school hours by pupils and community groups. Students will also work on joint arts initiatives with pupils from Bemrose School in Derby. A gym on the Starkholmes site will be converted for use as a flexible sport and performing arts room. The school recently opened a new performing arts block at its other site in Upper Lumsdale.
• Springwell Community School in Staveley – arts. A dance studio will be built as part of a £2.6 million sports complex and will link to a performing arts block that is due to open in September. The school will work with 14 other schools in the area to develop arts projects and involve more pupils in activities. Facilities will also be offered for use by the local community.
• Bolsover School – business and enterprise. An IT room will be built and existing classrooms altered to include improve IT facilities, including the installation of interactive whiteboards and Powerpoint overhead projectors. Pupils will receive help from local businesses to develop business skills such as decision making, leadership abilities and problem solving. The school will also work with local businesses to assist with their training needs.
• New Mills School and Sixth Form Centre – business and enterprise. A £125,000 business centre will be built for use by pupils, neighbouring schools and the local community. The school will also work with local businesses to raise the profile of New Mills among the business community. Leisure and tourism will be introduced as a GCSE and A-level course. Interactive whiteboards will be installed in classrooms, the school’s website will be improved and there will be more e-learning opportunities.
• St Philip Howard Catholic School in Glossop – sport. The school will spend £250,000 to build a new classroom and refurbish the changing rooms of its fitness suite. A community sports development officer will be appointed to work with local sports clubs to develop better sporting opportunities for the whole community, some of which will involve the use of the school’s facilities. The school will also have English as a subsidiary subject so it can work to improve literacy skills.
• Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Ashbourne – technology. The school is currently seeking planning permission to build a new block to deliver more computer aided manufacturing and design projects. They will work in partnership with Heritage Community School in Clowne and other local schools on technology projects. Adult education courses will also be offered in conjunction with Derbyshire County Council. 
  

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “It is tremendous news that a further eight schools have been given specialist status.

“It means that we could soon be in a position where all the county’s secondary schools specialise in a particular subject and are working with other schools and the local community to improve achievement and skill levels.“

Specialist schools develop into centres of excellence in their chosen area – which could be engineering, languages, science, technology, sports, arts, maths and computing or business and enterprise.

Schools that gain the status receive a one-off capital grant from the Government of £100,000 and £123 annually per pupils. The funding is provided for an initial four-year period.

All schools involved have to raise £50,000 themselves before they gain specialist status.

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS 

Before today’s announcement 29 other secondary schools had specialist status. They are: 

* Technology: Dronfield School, Ecclesbourne School, John Port at Etwall, Swanwick Hall, Kirk Hallam Community Technology College, Hope Valley College and Belper School, Chapel-en-le-Frith High School.

* Language: St Mary’s Roman Catholic High School at Chesterfield and Aldercar Community Language College at Heanor.

* Performing arts: Mill Hill School in Ripley, William Allitt School in Newhall, Ilkeston School

* Engineering: Eckington School.

* Science: Heanor Gate School, Long Eaton School, Shirebrook School, St Thomas More Catholic School in Buxton, Netherthorpe School in Staveley, St John Houghton Catholic School in Kirk Hallam

* Sports: Anthony Gell at Wirksworth, Brookfield Community at Chesterfield, Buxton Community School, Tibshelf School, Tupton Hall School in Old Tupton, Chesterfield

* Maths and computing: Frederick Gent School in South Normanton, John Flamsteed Community School in Denby, Pingle School in Swadlincote

* Business and enterprise: Wilsthorpe Community School in Long Eaton