Specialist schools are an important part of the Government's
plans to raise standards in secondary education. The Specialist
Schools Programme (SSP) helps schools, in partnership
with private sector sponsors and supported by additional Government
funding, to establish distinctive identities through their chosen
specialisms and achieve their targets to raise standards.
Specialist schools have a special focus on those subjects relating
to their chosen specialism but must also meet the National Curriculum
requirements and deliver a broad and balanced education to all
pupils.