SCIENTISTS of the future will get a head start if they go to Tytherington High School.

The Government has just announced that the school has received specialist science and mathematics status.

As well as a big cash boost specialist schools can also expect improved GCSE results.

Tytherington will receive more than £500,000 over the next few years to extend the quality of learning, enhance teaching expertise, raise standards and support community development. There will also be an extra £150,000 to improve facilities in the specialist subject areas.

Martin Davies, the school's publicity officer said: "Moreover, it will allow even more effective partnership with our local primary schools, other secondary schools, local businesses and the community of Macclesfield as a whole."

Specifically the new status will enable the school to:

  • become leaders of learning in science and maths;
  • enhance academic performance;
  • develop the pupils' skills and talents;
  • build more learning facilities;
  • raise standards and quality across the board;
  • increase the use of ICT across the curriculum.

Mr Davies said: "It is important to note that becoming a specialist science and mathematics school will in no way diminish the profile or teaching of other subjects in our curriculum."

"Rather, it will provide the investment needed to enhance all our subject areas Tytherington High School continues to be dedicated to an inclusive, comprehensive, pupil-centred education."

Tytherington joins three other Macclesfield schools in its specialist status. Fallibroome and Poynton have arts status and Henbury has technology status.

More than half of all secondary schools have now gained specialist school status as School Standards Minister David Milliband announced the latest round of 238 schools to be successful in their bids.

Mr Milliband said: "Specialist schools have a record of above average achievement so I am delighted that over half our secondary schools have now gained specialist status. The Specialist Schools Programme has become a mass movement for raising standards and more and more schools will join their ranks later this year."

Elizabeth Reid, chief executive of the Specialist Schools Trust, congratulated the newly designated soecialist schools.

She said: "I am delighted that the number of specialist schools has continued to grow. The number of new specialist schools is a reflection of the hard work and commitment which these schools have demonstrated to achieve higher standards. I hope that schools will continue to come forward and join the programme."