Scores of schools have been given specialist status, under a controversial government programme aimed at improving standards and spreading diversity.
Another 79 new specialist schools in England have been announced by the Education Secretary, Estelle Morris, bringing the total number of such schools to 684.
Click here for a list of the new ones
She has also named 425 new beacon schools - which are given extra cash in return for sharing best practice with other schools.
The announcement brings the total number of beacon schools in the English primary and secondary sectors, to 1,000.
We want all schools to be able to build on their own unique character, play to their strengths and be a part of an education system that celebrates diversity 
|
Estelle Morris, Education Secretary |
Specialist schools become centres of excellence in a subject area, such as technology, business, sport, the arts or modern languages.
Announcing the new wave of schools at a specialist school in east London, the Education Secretary Estelle Morris said the government aimed to build on the improvements in standards made in primary schools.
"These new specialist and beacon schools will help us to realise that aim by fostering a culture of innovation and allowing schools to learn from each other," she said.
"We want all schools to be able to build on their own unique character, play to their strengths and be a part of an education system that celebrates diversity."
Controversial scheme
The specialist school scheme is controversial because the nominated schools attract extra funding and are allowed to select up to 10% of children on aptitude.
They also have to attract funding from the private sector, which is matched by the government.
 Estelle Morris denies the scheme is socially divisive
|
Critics say the scheme has created a two-tier system which works against most ordinary state schools.
But the government believes the schools are important in raising standards and increasing diversity in the comprehensive system.
Ms Morris denied the schools were socially divisive, saying it was not only middle-class schools which could benefit from specialist status.
"We want an education system where every single school can play to its strengths - all those schools that are ready for specialist school status and want it can take it on," she said.
'Not rationed'
Critics tended to view the specialist school programme and the diversity programme as rationed, but it was not, she added.
"I believe that every single school can achieve its own ethos and mission and our task it to help," Ms Morris said.
Of the 79 new specialist schools, 33 will be technology colleges, 18 will be language colleges, 16 will concentrate on sports and 12 on arts.
The announcement of the new specialist schools means the government has exceeded its target of creating 650 by September.
The plan is for half of all comprehensive schools in England to be specialist centres.
East Midlands |
The Gleed Girls School
Spalding
Lincolnshire | Technology College |
 |
Aldercar Community School
Langley Mill
Derbyshire | Language College |
|
Hamilton High School
Leicester | Technology College |
|
Lees Brook Community School
Chaddesden
Derby | Sports College |
|
Lincoln Christ�s Hospital School
Lincoln | Language College |
|
Longslade Community College
Leicester | Technology College |
|
Sir William Robertson High School
Lincoln | Language College |
|
Swanwick Hall School
Derbyshire | Technology College |
|
Eastern |
City Of Norwich School
Norwich | Technology College |
|
Clacton County High School
Clacton-on-Sea
Essex | Performing Arts College |
|
Cromer High School
Cromer
Norfolk | Language College |
|
The Notley High School
Braintree
Essex | Technology College |
|
Southend High School for Boys
Southend-on-Sea
Essex | Language College |
|
St George's School
Harpenden
Hertfordshire | Technology College |
|
Westfield Community School
Watford
Hertfordshire | Technology College |
|
London |
Archbishop Michael Ramsey
Camberwell
London | Technology College |
|
Brittons School
South Hornchurch
Essex | Technology College |
|
Claremont High School
Harrow | Performing Arts College |
|
Central Foundation Girls� School
London | Performing Arts College |
|
Dagenham Priory Comprehensive School
Dagenham
Essex | Performing Arts College |
|
Eastlea Community School
Canning Town
London | Technical College |
|
Geoffrey Chaucer Community School
London | Technology College |
|
Lister Community School
Plaistow | Performing Arts College |
|
Quintin Kynaston School
London
NW8 0NL | Technology College |
|
Seven Kings High School
Ilford
Essex | Technology College |
|
North East |
Ashington Community High School
Northumberland
NE63 8DH | Sports College |
|
John Spence Community High School
North Shields
Tyne and Wear | Sports College |
|
Joseph Swan School
Gateshead | Technology College |
|
Kings Manor School
Middlesbrough
TS5 7JY | Sports College |
|
Monkwearmouth School
Sunderland | Performing Arts College |
|
Seaham School
Seaham
County Durham | Technology College |
|
North West and Merseyside |
All Saints Catholic High School
Rossendale
Lancashire | Language College |
|
Bebington High School
Wirral
Merseyside | Sports College |
|
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Liverpool | Sports College |
|
Park High School
Birkenhead
Wirral | Sports College |
|
The Queen Katherine School
Kendal
Cumbria | Technology College |
|
Stretford High School
Manchester
M32 0XA | Language College |
|
Cowley High School
St Helen�s
Merseyside | Language College |
|
St Chad�s Catholic High School
Runcorn
Cheshire | Language College |
|
St Julie�s Catholic High School
Liverpool | Language College |
|
South East |
Arbour Vale Special School
Slough | Joint Sports College |
|
Wexham School
Slough | Joint Sports College |
|
Bexhill High School
Bexhill-on-Sea | Technology College |
|
Connaught School for Girls
Leytonstone
London | Language College |
|
Holmesdale Community School
Snodland
Kent | Technology College |
|
Uplands Community College
Wadhurst
East Sussex | Technology College |
|
South West |
Beaminster School
Beaminster
Dorset | Technology College |
|
Archway School
Stroud
Gloucestershire | Technology College |
|
Hayle Community School
Hayle
Cornwall | Language College |
|
The Kings of Wessex Community School
Cheddar
Somerset | Technology College |
|
Oakmead School
Bournemouth
Dorset | Technology College |
|
Portway Community School
Bristol | Sports College |
|
West Midlands |
The Arthur Terry School
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands | Performing Arts College |
|
Baverstock School
Birmingham | Sports College |
|
Bridgnorth Endowed School
Bridgnorth
Shropshire | Technology College |
|
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School & Sixth Form Centre
Birmingham | Technology College |
|
de Ferrers School
Horninglow
Burton on Trent | Technology College |
|
The Elgar High School
Worcester | Technology College |
|
Haybridge High School
Hagley
Worcestershire | Technology College |
|
Holden Lane High School
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire | Sports College |
|
Kings Norton Girls� School
Birmingham | Language College |
|
Shenley Court School and Post 16 Centre
Birmingham | Performing Arts College |
|
St Peter�s CE High School
Penkhull
Stoke on Trent | Language College |
|
Yorkshire and the Humber |
Airedale High School (Community)
Castleford
West Yorkshire | Performing Arts College |
|
All Saints Catholic High School
Sheffield | Sports College |
|
Birley Community College
Sheffield | Technology College |
|
Brayton High School
Selby
Yorkshire | Technology College |
|
Corpus Christi Catholic High School
Leeds | Technology College |
|
The Grange School
Bradford | Technology College |
|
Handsworth Grange School
Sheffield | Sports College |
|
Harrogate Grammar School
Harrogate
North Yorkshire | Language College |
|
Malet Lambert School
Hull | Language College |
|
Meadowhead School
Sheffield | Language College |
|
Merlyn Rees Community High School
Leeds | Joint Performing Arts College |
|
Rodillian School
Wakefield | Joint Performing Arts College |
|
Rhodesway School
Bradford | Visual Arts College status |
|
Tong School
Bradford | Joint Sports College |
|
Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College
Bradford | Joint Sports College |
|
Wath Upon Dearne Comprehensive School
Rotherham | Language College |
|
Back to main text
E-mail this story to a friend
