A Merton school has become only the second school in the borough to be awarded specialist status.

Rutlish School in Watery Lane has been rewarded for its exceptional performance in maths and computing and will now receive additional funding from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Rutlish will specialise in maths and computing after it recorded consistently good results in these areas at Key Stage Three. The award will mean an additional £150,000. DfES funding will be ploughed into these departments so they can further develop their new specialism.

The award should benefit the whole community, as Rutlish will be developing its links with local primary schools and community groups.

The move is part of a government initiative to increase diversity in secondary schools. Schools can apply for one of ten specialisms. There is a rigorous application process and only schools that show

· Improvement over the previous three years in exams results – particularly in their chosen specialism
· a carefully planned development strategy
· firm plans to develop community links
· the necessary capacity to take on such a development

are considered for specialist status. Rutlish will become one of only 39 schools nationwide to achieve maths and computing specialist status.

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