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Specialist Schools Programme
Specialist Schools
While funds raised by the Entertainment Software Charity have historically been awarded to traditional youth charities such as Whizz Kidz and LIFT, in 2003 our attention also turned towards education. The charity became aware of the government’s Specialist Schools Programme and Academies initiative and decided to invest some of its funding directly into the future of education.
The SSP (Specialist Schools Programme) [Is this the SSAT?] helps schools, in partnership with private sector sponsors, to establish distinctive identities through the area in which they choose to specialise and achieve their targets to raise standards. To apply for Specialist status the school first has to identify the area of education in which they intend to specialise and raise £50,000 before submitting their plans to the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) for approval. If the application is successful, the Government then releases a further £600,000 in funding to enable the school to enhance its facilities and resources.
The SSP promotes school improvement by providing opportunities for schools to work to their strengths, enabling them to deliver effective teaching and learning in their area of expertise, as well as across the curriculum, and to drive innovation. Applicant schools engage in a thorough audit of their progress and set out plans and targets for specialist subject improvement as well as whole school targets. Specialist schools are an important part of the Government's plans to raise standards in secondary education. The target of 2000 specialist schools by 2006 has already been met 18 months early, in February 2005.
ESC funding of Specialist Schools
After careful research the ESC selected fourteen schools to support situated in all areas of England. Schools in areas of relative disadvantage outside of London were chosen as it is often more challenging for these schools to raise funds, particularly the £50,000 which must be raised before Specialist School status can even be applied for.
ESC Chief Executive Mark Strachan commented, “The ESC decided to become involved in the sponsorship of schools, providing links to the fast-moving and successful entertainment software industry for the pupils and supporting their education in a practical way. We sought out schools that have exciting plans for their development as specialist colleges and were very impressed by the innovative and creative ways in which the winning schools were drawing up their plans. The leadership of all the selected schools was a particular strength, both in the Head teachers and their senior management teams – the ESC knows that the best leadership is needed to create sustained improvement in schools, just as it is in the business world.”
With a £45,000 grant from the ESC, North Manchester High School’s application was successful and it has now been granted Specialist School status in Visual Arts and Media. This special status will bring an extra £660,000 to the school over four years to promote achievement through Arts and Media education.
As a result of £35,000 partnership funding from the ESC and CentreSoft [http://www.centresoft.co.uk/], Stockland Green School was awarded the crucial funding it needed for its successful bid for Specialist School status. The new school officially launched as a Technology College in October 2005.
“The Management team at CentreSoft have now committed to a long-term partnership with Stockland Green which will extend to work placements for pupils and a unique partnership with the teaching staff which will form a component of CentreSoft’s own management development programmes. The Head and teaching body are an inspirational team to work with and we are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with them as they develop a unique education establishment for our local community in Birmingham” David Neal, Group Managing Director, CentreSoft
Stockland Green School – A Case Study
The ESC has also provided support to the following schools:
Ashton Community Science College, Preston
Ferndown Visual Arts College, Bournemouth
Coquet High School, Northumberland
Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham
Frederick Gent School, Derby
Droylsden School for Girls, Manchester
Hounslow Manor, Hounslow
St Thomas Acquinas School, Manchester
Falinge Park School, Rochdale
Crown Woods School, Greenwich
Thomas Hepburn School, Morpeth
Perryfields, Birmingham (Pending)
In 2005 the ESC trustees approved a further grant of £100,000 to sponsor more schools. In total the ESC is improving the lives of 13,500 children a year through this scheme.
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The ESC has made a three-year commitment to donating £120,000 to Whizz Kidz, the largest charity in the UK supplying mobility equipment to children. click for more
The ESC has made a three-year commitment to donating £120,000 to Whizz Kidz, the largest charity in the UK supplying mobility equipment to children. click for more
On the Run! Join the ESCapees on the Asics Reading Half-Marathon on April 9th 2006 and raise funds for the ESC
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