SPECIALIST SCHOOL PROGRAMME
Ashby School is a designated Specialist Technology and Languages College - making it one of just a handful of establishments nationwide to become a specialist school in two subject areas.
Ashby School first became a Specialist Technology College (TC) in 1998, successfully renewing its TC status in 2001 and 2006. The most recent bid was made in partnership with Ashby's two feeder high schools, Ivanhoe and Ibstock Community Colleges.
Specialist Schools are existing schools, which are committed to enhancing students' experiences of the school's chosen specialism. At Ashby, the joint bid means that it is working with Ibstock and Ivanhoe to boost student participation in the specialist subject areas of Maths, Science and Design and Technology.
Since being awarded Specialist Languages College status in 2006, Ashby is continuing to increase the number of language opportunities on offer, developing existing courses, and expanding its language work within the local community.
Languages are increasingly important for work and recreational purposes, as part of an integrated Europe.
Schools applying for specialist status must put together a detailed five-year development plan for raising standards. The first tranche of applicants (including Ashby) was also required to raise £100,000 in sponsorship. This has since been reduced to £50,000 – but is still no mean feat.
If successful, the school receives a one-off capital grant of £100,000 along with an annual grant of £129 per pupil. One-third of the grant must be used to implement the Community/Partner School Targets as specified in the development plan.
Schools are scrutinised by the DfES to make sure they meet their targets. Schools must reapply for specialist status every four years with a more innovative and more demanding set of targets each time. They will lose their status if they fail to perform.
‘As well as achieving the highest standards in their chosen specialism, the Government wants them to become a resource for other schools and their local communities, equipping young people with the skills they need to progress into employment, further training or higher education according to their individual abilities, aptitudes and ambitions.’ (DfEE)
The aim of being a Specialist School is to raise standards, develop new approaches to teaching and learning, and to contribute to the development of partner schools and the local community.
At Ashby School, the following targets have been set:
- Set progressively higher academic targets for ICT, Science, Mathematics, Design and Technology
- Increased curriculum provision and increased take–up by students in the focus subjects at KS4 and post 16
- Improved examination grades at GCSE and post 16
- Develop links with other schools within the family
- Provide enrichment programmes for Ashby School and other local students
- To improve cross-school and cross–phase curriculum liaison and school improvement initiatives
- To provide summer schools, homework clubs and master classes
- To work closely with industry, local colleges and universities
- To provide training in ICT for members of the local community
Languages targets;
- To set progressively higher academic targets for Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) across KS4 and Post 16
- To increase the number of students studying two or more languages at KS4
- To increase curriculum provision, including new courses in French German and Spanish at KS4 and increased take-up by students at post 16
- To introduce the teaching of Russian and Japanese
- To increase enrichment opportunities and international links across KS4, post 16 and across the Ashby Family of Schools
- To work with local primary schools to meet the government target of MFL at KS2
