Primary schools to be given specialist status

Primary schools are to get extra cash to become specialist centres for the teaching of arts, science, music, sport and languages. Ministers hope the scheme will replicate the success of specialist secondary schools, where GCSE scores have risen by at least one grade across the board. Specialist schools get extra funding to spend on staff, training and equipment in their specialist area and must develop a strategy for raising standards in that particular field. Experience has shown that this usually has the knock-on effect of raising standards in other curriculum areas, as teachers in other subjects copy the successful strategies used by colleagues teaching specialist subjects.

34 pilot schools in Devon will test the idea to see if the same effect happens in primary schools.

Doesn't this sound exciting! I hope this idea goes national so that primary schools can really work towards achieving specialst status. I applaud the idea!