A HEADTEACHER is 'delighted' her school has been awarded specialist status in humanities by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The new status means Bishop s Hatfield Girls School will focus more on English, history and religious ed

A HEADTEACHER is "delighted" her school has been awarded specialist status in humanities by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The new status means Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School will focus more on English, history and religious education.

This allows the Hatfield establishment to "extend its innovative practice in teaching and learning to raise further achievement" across the Woods Avenue school.

Headteacher Theodora Nickson was keen to emphasise the additional funding secured through specialist status will benefit all subject areas.

ICT resources will be improved and video-conferencing facilities will be created to enable developments in the study of global citizenship - a theme connecting the specialist subjects.

Ms Nickson said: "This is an extremely exciting time in the school's development.

"Bishop's is approaching its 50th anniversary in 2010 and continues to provide the secure environment for learning and achievement valued by its founder members.

"We are particularly looking forward to some of the community work, which we will now undertake, for example, English classes to residents who need to acquire language skills."

The status means all five of Welwyn Hatfield's comprehensives now have specialisms.

The others are Onslow St Audrey's (business and enterprise), Monk's Walk (science), Stanborough (maths and computing), and Sir Frederic Osborn (sport).