THREE North Yorkshire schools are to receive more than £1.3 million funding after the Government today announced they were among 238 to be given specialist school status.
Manor CE School, York, has been given specialist performing arts status; Burnholme Community College, York, specialist business and enterprise status; and Malton School, specialist science status.
The schools had to raise £50,000 for their bids and this will now be matched by £150,000 from the Government, with a further boost of around £70,000 a year for four years.
Burnholme head teacher Tony Gavin said that the award marked a momentous day for Burnholme and created a marvellous opportunity to take the school's recent improvement onto another level.
"This is such a significant phase in our strategic development, which includes exciting plans for state-of-the-art facilities in maths, ICT and science," he said.
"We will be able to provide an engaging curriculum for the 21st century and ensure that any student coming to Burnholme leaves fully equipped with the skills, understanding, qualifications and confidence to progress in further education or the world of work."
Manor head teacher Brian Crosby said they would be refurbishing the school hall to create a state-of-the-art performance area.
"Manor CE School chose the Performing Arts because of our outstanding record in this area, we are committed to becoming a Centre of Excellence and sharing our resources with the rest of the local community," he said.
Malton head teacher David Roberts said the handout would fund two new science laboratories. "I'm absolutely delighted," he said. "We hope it will lead to improved exam results."
Schools Minister David Miliband said: "Specialist schools have a record of above average achievement so I am delighted that over half of our secondary schools have now gained specialist status.
"The Specialist Schools Programme has become a mass movement for raising standards and more and more schools will join their ranks later this year."
Updated: 10:28 Thursday, January 29, 2004
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