Arsenal footballer Jose Antonio Reyes launches Holloway school's specialist sports status
Holloway School launched
their new status as a Specialist Sports College in style, with footballer Jose
Antonio Reyes from Arsenal, and Faye White, captain of Arsenal Ladies
unveiling the plaque at a celebration event on Thursday 22 September.
Arsenal supported the school’s application and Reyes was quick to congratulate
Headteacher Bob Hamlyn on achieving specialist status.
Throughout the evening, pupils were awarded prizes for their participation in
sporting events and competitions. There were polished performances from
Holloway Boyz and Holloway Girlz dance team who put on a charismatic display
of contemporary dance moves.
16-year-old Efrem Semreab won the school’s Sports Personality of the Year
(male) and 13-year-old Jabeda Begum won the school’s Sports Personality of the
Year (female).
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.
Pictured:
Jose Antonio Reyes and Faye White with Holloway headteacher
Bob Hamlyn
Note to editors:
Islington’s specialist schools are:
Specialist schools:
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76% of all secondary schools in
England now have specialist status. The 2,382 specialist schools (of which
450 opened in September 2004) are maintained English secondary schools which
teach the full national curriculum but give particular attention to their
specialist subject, sometimes through an extended school day. All maintained
secondary schools are eligible to bid for specialist status.
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Specialist schools are nearly all comprehensive schools dedicated to accepting
pupils with a wide range of ability. Schools specialise in teaching the arts,
business & enterprise, engineering, the humanities, languages, mathematics &
computing, music, science, sports, and technology.
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Specialist schools are required to raise £50,000 of private sector sponsorship
and submit a bid to the Secretary of State showing how, if designated, they
will a) raise their standards overall and b) increase achievement in their
specialist subjects and c) help at least six partner schools, mainly primary
schools, to raise their standards.
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All are committed to building more coherent 14-19 pathways and working with
industry and employers to enhance learning opportunities for young people.
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If successful, specialist schools receive a one-off grant of £100,000 from the
Department for Education & Skills plus an annual recurrent top-up grant of
£129 per pupil. A third of the extra annual recurrent grant must be spent
helping partner schools.
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Specialist schools are required to re-bid to retain their designation every
four years, submitting new targets for achievement. Schools which are
performing well are fast tracked in their redesignation bids and may apply to
add a second specialism for which they receive an additional £60 per pupil per
year. Schools which do not achieve their original targets for improvement or
submit a weak bid may be de-designated.
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Lists of specialist schools by Government Office region can be accessed from
the specialist schools website
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: