Specialist School Status

Ric_ · 20-09-2007, 06:26 PM

There is an interesting article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/6984216.stm that backs up a thought that I have had for some time. Schools only want to become a Specialist to get their hands on the cash!

Admittedly, I agree that the hoops that must be jumped through will make the leadership think harder about how to spend the money and will make the spend benefit teaching and learning better.

tech_guy · 20-09-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric_

Admittedly, I agree that the hoops that must be jumped through will make the leadership think harder about how to spend the money and will make the spend benefit teaching and learning better.

Lol not from my experience.

russdev · 20-09-2007, 06:57 PM

Thing is getting ssat status does not mean you get a load of cash use to but these days you only get per pupil funding I think so not a massive amount anymore..

Russell

GrumbleDook · 20-09-2007, 08:13 PM

The SSAT is a club ... for some schools the club can be very helpful and is very important ... for others it isn't.

It partly depends on your speciality, how good at PR your school is and how good / poor your results are.

The good thing about the club is that it can give you access to other things that bring in additional funding or support for T&L.

There is one school I have been to in Devon that has several specialisms ... and it seemed to be a running joke that they only needed one more and they could be called a Comprehensive again.

I could go on about the politics of it all ... the move away from Central LA control ... the chance for independent thinking schools to go the way they want ...

The downside ... for some schools it is just about the money. For some schools it introduces yet another master that they have to obey (DCFS, OFSTED, LA, SSAT) and work around. For some schools they feel they *have* to get a specialism (or even a second or third) to compete with the other local schools.

Ric_ · 20-09-2007, 08:13 PM

@russdev: Do you not get the £100k lump sum then?

Still... an additional £195 per pupil is quite a lot of money!

russdev · 20-09-2007, 08:52 PM

Not sure the in and outs of it all maybe get lump sum on first subject but not second not sure mr grumbledook can you shed some light on this matter..

Russ

GrumbleDook · 20-09-2007, 09:36 PM

You mean this information?

sidewinder · 21-09-2007, 10:46 AM

Our school has 3 specialisms - and we get a hell of a lot of money.
Some of the use is questionable - constant new computer suites etc but the 3 specialism departments do have excellent facilities

paul · 21-09-2007, 12:02 PM

makes little difference as virtually all schools now are either have a specialism or are an acadamy.

Hedghog · 21-09-2007, 12:17 PM

That's not the case in Wales!

Oops_my_bad · 21-09-2007, 01:11 PM

I've found in our school there has had to be a lot of matched funding that other departments do seem to end up worse off

Welcome, Register for free! or Login below:
User Name		Remember Me?
Password

20-09-2007, 06:26 PM	#1
Ric_ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lancashire Posts: 5,578 Thanks: 29 Thanked 151 Times in 132 Posts Rep Power: 44	Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? There is an interesting article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/6984216.stm that backs up a thought that I have had for some time. Schools only want to become a Specialist to get their hands on the cash! Admittedly, I agree that the hoops that must be jumped through will make the leadership think harder about how to spend the money and will make the spend benefit teaching and learning better.

20-09-2007, 06:57 PM	#3
russdev Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 5,221 Thanks: 34 Thanked 85 Times in 60 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 33	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? Thing is getting ssat status does not mean you get a load of cash use to but these days you only get per pupil funding I think so not a massive amount anymore.. Russell

20-09-2007, 08:13 PM	#4
GrumbleDook Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kettering, Northants Posts: 5,117 Thanks: 53 Thanked 206 Times in 110 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 55	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? The SSAT is a club ... for some schools the club can be very helpful and is very important ... for others it isn't. It partly depends on your speciality, how good at PR your school is and how good / poor your results are. The good thing about the club is that it can give you access to other things that bring in additional funding or support for T&L. There is one school I have been to in Devon that has several specialisms ... and it seemed to be a running joke that they only needed one more and they could be called a Comprehensive again. I could go on about the politics of it all ... the move away from Central LA control ... the chance for independent thinking schools to go the way they want ... The downside ... for some schools it is just about the money. For some schools it introduces yet another master that they have to obey (DCFS, OFSTED, LA, SSAT) and work around. For some schools they feel they have to get a specialism (or even a second or third) to compete with the other local schools.

20-09-2007, 08:13 PM	#5
Ric_ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lancashire Posts: 5,578 Thanks: 29 Thanked 151 Times in 132 Posts Rep Power: 44	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? @russdev: Do you not get the £100k lump sum then? Still... an additional £195 per pupil is quite a lot of money!

		EduGeek.net Forums > General > General Chat
Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything?

20-09-2007, 08:52 PM	#6
russdev Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 5,221 Thanks: 34 Thanked 85 Times in 60 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 33	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? Not sure the in and outs of it all maybe get lump sum on first subject but not second not sure mr grumbledook can you shed some light on this matter.. Russ

20-09-2007, 09:36 PM	#7
GrumbleDook Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kettering, Northants Posts: 5,117 Thanks: 53 Thanked 206 Times in 110 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 55	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? You mean this information?

21-09-2007, 10:46 AM	#8
sidewinder Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Near Reading Posts: 1,228 Thanks: 14 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Rep Power: 9	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? Our school has 3 specialisms - and we get a hell of a lot of money. Some of the use is questionable - constant new computer suites etc but the 3 specialism departments do have excellent facilities

21-09-2007, 12:02 PM	#9
paul Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Longridge, Nr Preston Posts: 140 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 0	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? makes little difference as virtually all schools now are either have a specialism or are an acadamy.

21-09-2007, 12:17 PM	#10
Hedghog Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Wales Posts: 50 Thanks: 19 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Rep Power: 6	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? That's not the case in Wales!

21-09-2007, 01:11 PM	#11
Oops_my_bad Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I'll be back in Madchester before you knows it Posts: 1,236 Thanks: 152 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts Rep Power: 9	Re: Specialist School Status - Does it really mean anything? I've found in our school there has had to be a lot of matched funding that other departments do seem to end up worse off

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Foundation school status?	Oops_my_bad	General Chat	9	13-06-2008 05:53 PM
Server specialist - @£30K Surrey	SpecialAgent	Educational IT Jobs	0	24-10-2007 08:52 AM
Local Authority Specialist / ICT Consultant	tosca925	Educational IT Jobs	4	08-05-2007 07:35 PM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search Thread: Advanced Search

Register now for FREE and post messages!
Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail: Birthday: Image Verification I agree to forum rules

General Chat forum sponsored by