Arsenal footballer helps Holloway School celebrate its specialist status
Holloway School has been awarded specialist status, taking the total of
specialist schools in Islington to seven. With effect from this month,
Holloway School is a Specialist Sports College. An Arsenal football player
will be unveiling a plaque to mark the school’s new specialist status at a
celebration event on Thursday 22 September.
Event: Celebration event
Date: Thursday 22 September 2005
Time: 5.00pm prompt (for the unveiling of the plaque)
Venue: Holloway School, Hilldrop Road, N7
Gaining specialist sports status fulfils a long-standing aspiration for the
school, and will further support the on-going improvements and developments at
the school in Hilldrop Road, Islington.
Specialist schools focus on a chosen subject, while still meeting National
Curriculum requirements and delivering a balanced education to all pupils.
As part of the specialist schools scheme, Holloway School will each receive a
one-off capital grant of £100,000 as well as a yearly bonus of £126 per
student, guaranteed for the next four years.
Headteacher, Bob Hamlyn said: “We are delighted for the whole school
community. This achievement will bring with it a significant amount of extra
resources to develop teaching and learning across the school, not just in PE,
but also in ICT and other subjects. We will now have further capacity to offer
a wide range of activities to the wider community, including partner primary
schools, and local residents.
“The selection process for specialist schools is rigorous. We have shown that
we have the capacity to sustain our rise in standards over the coming years,
as well as extend the services we are able to offer to others.”
The announcement comes at the same time as confirmation that Holloway School
will benefit from brand new Sports Facilities, including a Sports Hall,
swimming pool and all weather pitch. Work began on site in July 2005. This is
part of the wider project to co-host the secondary element of the Bridge
Special School onto the site.
“These are exciting times for Holloway School and for education in Islington,”
said Bob Hamlyn.
The school was supported in its bid to become a specialist school by a range
of partners, not least Arsenal FC. The school’s Old Boys, the Old Camdenians,
also rallied round the cause helping raise money and awareness. Bob Wilson,
former Arsenal star and ex-teacher at the school supported the school by
speaking at a charity dinner earlier in the year.
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: