‘Specialist’ Primaries to Be Formed

By Richard Garner

Primary schools will be allowed to become specialist under a government initiative to be launched in September.

The plan – to be launched in 34 schools – will allow them to specialise in one of five areas of the curriculum: music, arts, languages, science or sport/PE.

Ministers cite the example of the secondary sector, where specialist status has led to improvements in exam results.

However, teachers are worried that the curriculum will become too narrow at too young an age. Professor Alan Smithers, of the University of Buckingham, told The Times Educational Supplement: "If you say you are a specialist and back that up then it narrows the experience of children and if you do not back it up then it is misleading for parents."

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