Headteacher Derrick Brown described today's decision to grant Ashmole School in Southgate specialist status as "tremendous."
It means that the school in Cecil Drive, will now be a specialist science college with new developments such as an observatory and alternative energy centre to be built in the coming year.
"I'm over the moon," said Mr Brown. "The staff who know are overjoyed, and I'm sure the ones who don't know will be when they hear the news."
The school had to raise around £50,000 in sponsorship to apply for the status, and its successful application was revealed earlier today by Education Secretary Estelle Morris. It will take effect from September.
Science is one of four new specialisms for schools. The others are engineering, business and enterprise, maths and computing. Finchley Catholic High, Woodside Lane, has been granted specialist status in business and enterprise with maths and computing, and Copthall School, Pursley Road, Mill Hill, has also been granted specialist status for business and enterprise.
Three schools in the borough already have specialist status. Mill Hill County High School in Worcester Crescent, Mill Hill, is a technology college; Hendon School in Golders Rise, Hendon, is a languages college and Whitefield School, Claremont Road, Cricklewood, is a sports college. There are no arts colleges in the borough.
July 4, 2002 11:00
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