STAFF and students of a local girls school are celebrating this week, after discovering the school it was one of 160 in England to be awarded specialist school status.
School Standards Minister David Miliband announced yesterday (Thursday) that Watford Grammar School for Girls had been awarded arts college status.
The school, in Lady's Close, Watford, was one of two in Hertfordshire the other being The Broxbourne School appointed specialist college status for business and enterprise.
As part of its successful bid for arts college status, the school was required to submit a four-year development plan detailing how it aims to use its funds a one-off capital grant of £100,000, and a further £123 per pupil for a further four consecutive years.
It also had to explain how it would involve other local schools and the wider community, and raise £50,000 in private sector sponsorship.
In announcing the new specialist schools, Mr Miliband said: "These schools are embarking upon an exciting project that will lead to increased learning opportunities for all pupils, both in these schools and those nearby.
"The students of today will be the entrepreneurs, computer experts, science teachers and engineers of tomorrow.
"More than £70 million has been raised to date by schools in the programme.
"The Specialist Schools Programme promotes opportunity, challenge and the celebration by schools of their own distinctive character and ethos.
"We want to ensure this programme allows all schools to enhance their strengths and to share good practice for the benefit of all."
Headteacher Mrs Helen Hyde said: "I am absolutely delighted with the news of the acquisition of specialist school status.
"In my view, in order to be a truly educated person, you need to have the academic studies balanced with real knowledge of the visual arts.
"We have been working towards obtaining this status for the past two years and, now we have it, we look forward to broadening our contacts and working relationship with the wider community."
July 4, 2002 16:00
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