Schools launch £1m bid

Warden Park School in Cuckfield, near Haywards Heath, and Oathall Community College in Haywards Heath yesterday launched their innovative joint attempt to become special status schools.

Each school has put forward a unique combination of subjects never tried anywhere in the country before.

Warden Park School hopes to become a specialist school for mathematics, ICT and modern foreign languages.

Oathall Community College in Haywards Heath, is applying to become a specialist school in science and visual arts.

If the bids go through and both schools raise £50,000, they will each be given £500,000 for the next four years to invest in their chosen specialisms.

Jill Wilson, headteacher at Oathall Community College said: "It's incredibly exciting and innovative, and a great challenge.

"I believe it will energise the school and the community.

"There is one other school which has special status for science and performing arts, but we are the first to put forward visual arts.

"Traditionally these subjects have been seen as opposing, but we want to show they have mutual benefits.

"Oathall is fortunate enough to be strong in all areas and we feel we could have gone for specialisms in quite a number of options.

"As part of a special college we would like to bring down some of these barriers working across the curriculum including creating more diversity, encouraging more girls and looking to increase science take-up post-16."

Warden Park has already had interest from businesses. BAA Gatwick has given £5,000 and local estate agents Fox and Son have given £2,000.

Steve Johnson, Warden Park headteacher said: "The local community will really benefit from this."

Mr Johnson said: "This is a unique opportunity for Haywards Heath and one we can't afford to have pass us by.

"By applying for specialist school status together, Oathall and Warden Park can bring a huge educational boost to the community.This is an opportunity for everyone."