Specialist Schools Programme

The Specialist Schools Programme helps schools to develop identities through their chosen specialisms. The schools achieve this in partnership with private sector sponsors and through additional government funding.

Specialist schools focus on their chosen subject area, providing enhanced learning opportunities in this field.

They must also meet the requirements of the National Curriculum, to deliver a wide and balanced range of subjects.

There are twelve specialist areas: arts, business & enterprise, engineering, humanities, language, mathematics & computing, music, science, special specialism, sports, technology and vocational.

Schools can opt to teach two specialist subjects (such as a humanities and media arts specialism or a science and engineering specialism).