The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) is an independent, not-for-profit, membership organisation with headquarters in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, dedicated to raising standards and achievement in secondary schools in England and internationally. With over 5,500 members from around the world, the SSAT is one of the largest education networks in the world.

The SSAT had lead responsibility for delivering the Government's Specialist School

Specialist school

The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...

s and Academies

Academy (England)

In the education system of England, an academy is a school that is directly funded by central government and independent of control by local government in England. An academy may receive additional support from personal or corporate sponsors, either financially or in kind...

 programmes in England. This programme ceased to function after the Coalition Government came to power in May 2010. The organisation chose to make many of its 500+ employees redundant as a result. This was achieved by giving only the basic minimum redundancy payments. Many affiliates have criticised the lavish spending of their money on first class travel and luxurious overseas venues used by the senior management.

The SSAT promotes higher standards and achievement by building and enabling a network of innovative, high performing schools in partnership with business and the wider community.

Our members

Specialist schools and academies, Trust schools, Special schools, Primary schools, Sixth-form colleges, Further education colleges, Higher education institutions, Local authorities, Schools outside England.
It is constituted as a registered charity

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 under English law and its objects are: ""To advance for the public benefit the education of young people by the establishment of secondary schools which place a strong emphasis on science, maths and technology". Its headquarters are at Millbank Tower

Millbank Tower

Millbank Tower is a high skyscraper in the City of Westminster at Millbank, on the banks of the River Thames in London, in the United Kingdom. The Tower was constructed in 1963 for Vickers and was originally known as Vickers Tower. It was designed by Ronald Ward and Partners and built by John...

 in London.

Leadership

The SSAT is governed by a Board with a Chief Executive responsible for day to day leadership and management. In 2011 many of its staff were made redundant as government contracts were lost. In November 2011 the CEO resigned. Another 50% of staff will be made redundant before the end of the financial year. The SSAT faces severe challenges. Its luxurious premises in Millbank are reduced by two thirds.

Specialist schools

The incoming Coalition Government effectively ended the Specialist School Programme in 2010. Specialist schools worked with private-sector sponsors and were supported by extra government funding. Specialist schools focussed on those subjects that relate to their chosen specialist subject, but must also had to meet the National Curriculum requirements and deliver a broad and balanced education to all pupils.

Any maintained secondary school in England could apply for specialist status in one of 10 specialisms: arts, business and enterprise, engineering, humanities, languages, maths and computing, music, science, sports, and technology. Schools could also have any two extra specialisms.

The Specialist School Programme promoted improvement by giving opportunities for schools to work to their strengths. This allowed them to deliver effective teaching and learning in their specialist area of expertise, as well as across the curriculum, and to drive forward new ideas.

International

iNet is the international arm of the SSAT.

iNet stands for International Networking for Educational Transformation. Our network of schools and institutions to encourage schools from different countries to share good and innovative practice.

iNet emerged from a previous international membership scheme which was based on affiliated schools in the UK inviting their international partners. A scheme linking African and English schools was ended in 2009 as the African schools were unable to afford the higher membership fees.

http://www.ssat-inet.net/

Many UK schools now partner with schools around the world through the SSAT.

External links

• Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
• The Standards' Site (decommissioned after May 2010)
• iNet (SSAT's international arm)