City special school will be the first to gain status

LDDA - The Liberal Democrat Disability Association <info@disabilitylibdems.org.uk>

City special school will be the first to gain status

January 14, 2007 5:06 PM

A Derby special school is set to become the first of its kind in the city to take on specialist status. Staff and pupils at St Andrew's Special School are busy raising the £20,000 needed to support their bid to the Government, which has to be submitted by March 7.

They are hoping to be given a new specialism category -communication and interaction, one of four given to special educational needs schools. Until now, nine city mainstream secondary schools have successfully applied for specialisms, including technology, science and sport.

If the 67-pupil school is successful, it will receive £100,000 towards a building project, which has yet to be revealed, and also £60,000 a year for the next four years. Since the school in Breadsall Hilltop launched its campaign to raise the cash, a variety of activities has taken place and more are planned.

These include car boot sales, raffles and a Christmas carol service in nearby St Phillip's Church, in Taddington Road.

Assistant head teacher Phil Harrison is planning a coast-to-coast cycle ride of 150 miles from Whitehaven to Sunderland in April. He said: "When we get the new specialism, it will enable us to extend the curriculum to allow more drama, music and arts groups to work with the pupils in school. We have already been praised by Government inspectors for being good in all areas of the curriculum and for our work in the personal development of pupils. So we see this as enriching the education we give our pupils. Some of the £60,000 would be used to aid our work with local schools."

The school, which is in St Andrew's View, caters for pupils aged 11 to 19 with severe learning difficulties, including autism, which can make communication difficult. Mr Harrison said: "Everyone is really behind our bid and the student council has come up with many ideas for fund-raising. "We have now raised about £12,600, including an anonymous donation of £5,000, but obviously we are hoping to get the rest as soon as possible."

Earlier this week, Derby construction company GF Tomlinson, of City Road, donated £500 to the school. A company spokesman said: "The principal aim of the school is to provide a stimulating, challenging and a caring environment that allows everyone to develop to their full potential. "We are delighted to be able to help the staff and pupils towards achieving their specialist status."

Anyone wishing to donate money to the school or who has any fund-raising ideas should contact the school on Derby 832746.

In 2005, Holly House Special School, Old Whittington, near Chesterfield, was the first in the county to gain specialist status.