Two schools get specialist status (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Two schools get specialist status

Ref. 28869-82AN extra £600,000 funding will be winging its way to two schools after they were granted specialist status.

Wootton Bassett School and Commonweal School in Old Town were among the 238 other schools around the country who were successful in the latest round of bidding.

Commonweal has been designated a performing arts college and Wootton Bassett a technology college.

They will receive the extra money over the next four years £100,000 of which must be used for a capital project.

Headteachers of both schools say specialist status is not only good news for their individual schools but also the wider community.

In order to achieve specialist status, schools have to raise £50,000 and present a complex bid outlining the way in which the additional funds would be spent.

They also have to demonstrate a special commitment to the relevant subjects and be willing to liaise with the wider community, including employers and primary schools.

The news comes on the back of a good Ofsted report for Commonweal which was described as an effective school.

Headteacher Keith Defter, said: "Staff, students, parents, governors and the wider community signed up to this bid and we must ensure that our new-found status enables us to enrich the learning and lives of all those in our community, and make our best, better."

The school had investment from Rod Jackson and Cisco Systems and financial support from the PTA and a host of individual parents.

Wootton Bassett's bid was supported by the White Horse Education Partnership, the company which rebuilt the school under the Private Finance Initiative, and Uniq PLC, owners of the former St Ivel site in Wootton Bassett. Both donated £25,000.

Headteacher Chris Montacute said: "We envisage the school becoming a true community learning centre, offering facilities and expertise to all.

"Our plans include working closely with primary schools on innovative curriculum projects, providing adult basic skills, teaching employees of local businesses and even offering local senior citizens the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the internet and email.

Types of learning

Specialist schools in Swindon:

Bradon Forest School: applying for performing arts status

Churchfields School: was a performing arts college, currently appealing against decision to strip the school of its status

Dorcan Technology College: a technology college, recently invited by the government to reapply for a second four-year term because of the success it has enjoyed

Greendown School: applying to become a maths and computing college

Highworth Warneford School: applying to become a technology college for September

Hreod Parkway School: the school is preparing a bid with the aim of becoming a specialist school for 2005

Kingsdown School: granted technology college status in February 2003

St Joseph's School: applying for business and enterprise status

Commonweal School: recently won its status as a performing arts college

Headlands School: currently in special measures.

Ridgeway School: became a science college in September 2003

Wootton Bassett: recently won its status as a technology college

Bhavani Vadde