Government announces first wave of specialist schools

Joe Plomin

Education minister Estelle Morris today announced the first batch of specialist schools the government will be introducing across the country, despite the protests of colleges, backbench MPs and teachers' unions.

The 16 colleges will get £300,000 each to help them specialise in a subject, ranging from computing to childcare.

The government argues the new further education colleges will allow more people to get the best vocational education possible.

Ms Morris said: "The new centres recognise the need to provide the best, both for their students and for industry. In doing so, they play an essential economic role while giving individuals the skills they need to enable them to find work in a fast-changing jobs market."

However, only half the existing colleges will be able to take part in the scheme, leaving unions and many MPs angry about a potentially divisive programme.

The Association of Colleges has attacked the scheme, saying it could leave students in rural areas with no choice about what to study because they can only go to their local college.

Politicians have also voiced concern about the plan. This week, backbench Labour MPs said specialist schools could lead to a two-tier funding system, where comprehensives with no speciality could be left without enough money.

However, there is no prospect of a full backbench rebellion similiar to that witnessed over the appointment of select committee members.

Unions have been less aggressive in dismissing the new schools, but equally concerned they have not been considered carefully.

General secretary of the Secondary Heads Association Dr John Dunford welcomed increased diversity in post-16 education, but said the government should have reassured the sector it had plans to avoid division.

Against this wave of criticism, the education minister has pointed to colleges in which reputation has improved after taking on specialist status, and argued standards will improve.

List of specialist colleges:
Accrington and Rossendale College, Lancashire (Construction)
South Tyneside College (Nautical Science and Marine Engineering)
Bradford College (Applied Science)
The Arts Institute at Bournemouth (Lens-based Media)
Bishop Burton College, East Yorkshire (Agriculture)
Sparsholt College, Hampshire (Game, Wildlife and Country Management and Fishery Studies)
Birmingham College of Food Tourism and Creative Studies (Hospitality and Catering)
South East Essex (Media Technology)
Tameside College, Greater Manchester (Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)
Warwickshire College (General Engineering)
Lewisham College, London (Computing)
Barking and Havering Colleges with FORD, London (Auto Engineering and Mechanical Production)
South Birmingham College (Childcare)
Richmond Adult and Community College, Richmond upon Thames (Business and IT)
Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancashire (Hospitality and Catering)
Leeds College of Technology (Printing).

Sourced from: The Guardian