Specialist Status reflections…

The Specialist Schools Programme (SSP) helps schools to establish distinctive identities through their chosen specialisms. This in turn helps them achieve their targets to raise standards. Specialist schools aim to develop centres of curriculum excellence which are catalysts for accelerated whole school improvement by making a step change in the way they develop educational provision and raise standards for all.

My most recent experience is working in a Specialist Sports College. On a day-to-day basis yes you really do ‘feel’ that you are in a sports college as it is mentioned regularly and many students are involved in sporting activities, especially of a high profile nature. As a large department with many facilities, it is certainly what attracts many students to the school. Therefore, the impact of a Sports Specialism is high – especially as many flock to the various in house and external events in this area.

How can impact in terms of whole school improvement be created successfully through the specialism? Sport has been used successfully to improve punctuality, attendance and motivation. For example, as a Religious Studies teacher I have led on a series of workshops titled ‘Religion in Dance’ which did prove highly sucessful in motivating a group of semi-disaffected students towards engagement with the curriculum. A sports specialism can also be used effectively to drive forward core standards such as literacy across the curriculum… eg: Religious Studies examining Sectarianism in Sport and Black History Month further supporting the development of key skills such as persuasive writing…

It certainly is ‘nice’ to work in a school that has a distinctive identity – particularly when it comes to showcasing and celebrating achievement. The harder task is to ensure that a specialist status is used as an effective tool to accelerate whole school improvement. To achieve this, a very careful and dedicated planning, monitoring, review and evaluation process needs to be in place at a high profile level. This does need to tie in very neatly with the whole school development plan – which is not always an easy task, but a possible one that a dedicated team can achieve well!