First NI schools to receive specialist status

Northern Ireland's Education Minister, Angela Smith, has today announced that 12 of the province's schools are to receive specialist status by the end of 2006.

It is understood that from September this year, the schools will become centres of excellence in science, entertainment, and language.

Speaking earlier today, during a visit to St Louise's College in Belfast, the Education Minister said: "I have been extremely impressed by the potential, by the innovation and by the creativity of these schools and I'm delighted 12 schools can look forward to specialist status from September 2006.

"These schools will help to raise standards not just in the specialist area, but across the whole curriculum. They will also be working with other schools, community groups and the business sector and through collaboration and sharing best practice, they will benefit partner schools and all pupils in the local area."

The schools to be included in the pilot scheme are: Ashfield Girls High School Belfast, The Girls Model in Belfast, Glengormley High School, and Ballyclare High School, which will specialise in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Budding performers can choose to attend St Cecilia's College in Derry, St Louise's College in Belfast, and Limavady High School, which will be focussing on Performing Arts.

St Mary's College and Lumen Christi College, both in Derry, will have Science as their specialist subject.

St Malachy's College in Belfast will concentrate in Music, Shimna Integrated College will have Languages as their area of expertise, while St John's High School in Dromore will have Business and Enterprise as their field of excellence.

The Education Minister concluded: "The Secretary of State recently referred to the Specialist Schools model as an important element of the education reform programme essential to produce a world-class workforce. We believe that if every pupil is to achieve, then every school must be excellent, with real choice between academic and vocational courses."

The schools taking part in this pilot will receive a four year School Development Plan; a four year Community Development Plan; a bid for a one off £100k capital grant; and unconditional private sponsorship of £25k.

Each school will also receive £100 per pupil for the four years of designation and £100k one off capital grant to support development of the specialism.

The Department of Education will work closely with the ETI to monitor and evaluate the progress of the pilot schools throughout the first four years and schools will be required to seek redesignation in the fourth year.

(EF/SP)