Specialist schools

Over 70% of all secondary schools in England now have specialist status, and recent research has shown that these schools, which raise private sector support to leverage additional Government funding, are raising exam results faster than other state secondaries.

In 2003, 58.9% of pupils in specialist schools achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE, compared to 50.2 per cent of pupils in non-specialist schools (Specialist Schools: a second evaluation, Ofsted, 2005). Research for the Specialist Schools Trust has suggested that the schools also do better on a value-added basis.

Schools applying for specialist school status submit a detailed long-term development plan to the DfES with specific targets for improving the school's overall results and raising achievement in the specialist subject. The plan also shows how one third of the funding will be used to help other schools in the local community.

The Sutton Trust agreed to provide part-sponsorship for its twenty-eighth specialist school in 2004. We were delighted when Magdalene College School, Oxford approached us to co-sponsor Oxford Community School in its bid for Business and Enterprise specialist status. We are keen to encourage independent schools to join us in supporting specialist schools, as King's College, Wimbledon does with Coombe Girls' School, and Brighton College does with Longhill High School.

Useful links:
Specialist Schools Trust

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