Supporting schools

To apply for specialist status, each school has to raise £50,000 from the private sector and build long-term beneficial relationships with industry. The success of the specialist schools programme is therefore not down to the schools alone: they rely heavily on support and investment from the private sector to help them make improvements to better serve their pupils and local communities.

Schools applying for specialist status must submit a detailed development plan with specific targets for improving the school’s overall results and raising achievement in the specialist subject. This plan also shows how the funding received will be used for work to benefit other schools and the local community.

Successful applicants receive a one off capital grant from the Department for Education and Skills of £100,000 and an annual grant for 4 years of £129 per pupil, amounting to approximately £600,000 for an average-sized school.

There are two application rounds for specialist schools each year, in March and October. Typically about two thirds of the bidding schools are successful in achieving specialist status. Some schools bid a second or third time before being designated.

Schools can apply for specialist status in 12 different curriculum areas:

Schools can also apply for joint specialisms or add a rural dimension to any of the specialisms listed.  

Why sponsor a specialist school?

Why sponsor a specialist school?
Follow the link to find out more.

Chairman's briefs

Briefing documents for potential sponsors prepared by the Chairman, Sir Cyril Taylor, GBE, are available on each of the categories of specialist schools listed above as well as a general briefing document. Please click on the links in the right-hand menu to access the full documents.