"Specialist schools are an important part of the Government's plans to raise standards in secondary education.  The target of 2000 specialist schools has already been met 18 months early in February 2005.

The Specialist Schools Programme (SSP) helps schools, in partnership with private sector sponsors and supported by additional Government funding, to establish distinctive identities through their chosen specialisms and achieve their targets to raise standards"  (from the Standards Site - Specialist Schools website)

Most Dorset secondary schools and some middle schools have achieved specialist status. Schools details and websites can be found from the LA Schools link on the right of this page.

Arts

Ferndown Upper School
Lytchett Minster School
Royal Manor Arts College, Portland
The Woodroffe School, Lyme Regis

Business & Enterprise

The Gryphon School, Sherborne

Language

The Sir John Colfox School, Bridport
Highcliffe School, Christchurch

Mathematics and Computing

Sturminster Newton High School

Music

Twynham School, Christchurch

Science 

All Saints Church of England School, Weymouth
Dorchester Middle School
Highcliffe School, Christchurch
St Mary's CE Middle School, Puddletown
St Osmund's CE Middle School, Dorchester
The Purbeck School, Wareham
The Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester

Sports

Queen Elizabeth's School, Wimborne Minster
Shaftesbury School and Sports College
The Grange School, Christchurch
The Wey Valley School, Weymouth

Technology

Beaminster School
Budmouth Technology College, Weymouth
The Blandford School
Twynham School, Christchurch
Westfield Technology College, Weymouth

Training Schools

Dorchester Middle School
St Mary's CE Middle School, Puddletown
St Osmund's CE Middle School, Dorchester
Twynham School, Christchurch
The Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester
Westfield Technology College, Weymouth