Specialist schools
What are they?
The Specialist Schools Programme helps schools, in partnership with private sector sponsors and supported by additional Government funding, to establish distinctive identities through their chosen specialisms and achieve their targets to raise standards. Specialist schools have a special focus on their chosen subject area but must meet the National Curriculum requirements and deliver a broad and balanced education to all pupils.
Any maintained secondary school in England can apply to be designated as a specialist school in one of ten specialist areas: arts, business and enterprise, engineering, humanities, language, mathematics and computing, music, science, sports and technology. Schools can also combine any two specialisms.
See below for more information about each of the specialisms.
Arts
Arts colleges will be innovative in finding new ways for students to learn
well. They will identify ways in which the arts can improve learning in
other curriculum areas. They will take a lead in using
ICT as a means of enhancing learning in the arts and other subjects,
and will enable students to work in school with professionals involved in the
arts and creative industries and to enjoy artistic experiences outside the
classroom.
Business and enterprise
Business and enterprise colleges will raise the participation rate in the specialist subject areas, providing young people with the skills needed to progress into employment, self-employment, further training and higher education according to their individual abilities, aptitudes and ambitions.
Engineering
Having the active support of the engineering industry - both financially and through the provision of advice, management support, work placements and engineering skills training courses - engineering colleges will focus on design and technology, mathematics and science.
Humanities
Humanities colleges will set targets in three humanities-based specialist
subjects, which are English, geography and history. The aim is to
develop plans for teaching and learning in humanities-based subjects,
spreading good practice using modern and traditional technologies and
experiences beyond the classroom that ensure young people are adequately
skilled in the techniques and concepts relevant to the specialist subjects
and can apply them to other contexts.
Language
Language colleges play a key role in supporting the National Languages Strategy, which aims to transform the country's capability in languages, encouraging languages for life and languages for all. They raise participation rates in modern foreign languages and enhance language learning opportunities for their pupils and for their local learning community.
Mathematics and computing
Mathematics and computing colleges will develop a visible mathematics and computing selection of courses at all key stages to cater for individual needs within school and provide a range of opportunities for adult learners. This range includes the imaginative use of ICT, curriculum enrichment activities and involvement in national initiatives and competitions to raise standards of teaching, learning and attainment in the specialist subject.
Music
Music colleges will be inclusive by promoting enjoyment of many different musical forms and encouraging all students to participate in a wide variety of music making. They will identify ways in which standards of achievement and teaching can be raised using ICT as a means of enhancing learning in music and other subjects. They will encourage their students to develop a lifelong passion for, and appreciation of, music not only as composers and performers but also as audiences, technicians and critics.
Science
A science college will provide a centre of excellence in scientific, technological, enterprising and vocational education. It will be an active contributor to local and national developments within science and mathematics and will encourage young people to pursue science and mathematics beyond 16, providing them with appropriate learning pathways so that they develop the skills needed to be active citizens within an increasingly scientific world and to progress into employment, further training and higher education according to their individual abilities, aptitudes and ambitions.
Sports
The sports colleges will be regional focal points for promoting excellence in physical education and community sport, extending links between families of schools, sports bodies and communities; sharing resources; developing and spreading good practice; and helping to provide a structure through which young people can progress to careers in sport and physical education. They will extend provision and facilities to benefit all students of all sporting abilities, whilst also giving those with the greatest potential the opportunity to achieve the highest standards of which they are capable.
Technology
Technology colleges will promote an educational culture which is scientific, technological, enterprising and vocational. They will be developing a technological range of subjects which makes innovative and extensive use of ICT to raise standards and the quality of teaching and learning in design and technology, science and mathematics.
Further information
To find out how a specialist school can enhance the quality and enjoyment of
your child's learning and achievement, download the following leaflet
- 
'Building
on good practice in specialist schools'
- download (.pdf)
(help)
.
