There can be little intellectual excitement and stimulus to learn in a school where children do not make the link between increased knowledge and understanding and the progress of mankind. Some of our reasons for choosing English as our lead subject, with Citizenship and Classics in support, are as follows:

• We believe that concentrating on high standards of teaching and learning in reading, writing, speaking and listening will empower children, both in raising their achievement in all other subjects, but also in life; additionally, we believe that exposure to the best in literature and poetry is an essential part of a rounded English curriculum;
• We believe that Citizenship allows the thoughtful exploration both of ‘what it means to be human’ and ‘what is entailed in playing a full part in society’;
• We believe that Classics lays bare the foundations of our language, our political and other institutions and also shows the potential of men and women to organise and progress.

The influence of our Specialist School Status spreads beyond the confines of Diss High School itself:

• We are supported in our aims by five of our Primary Feeder Schools (Diss, Burston, Bressingham, Garboldisham and All Saints, Winfarthing);
• We have a secondary school partner in Archbishop Sancroft High School, Harleston;
• The local community benefits from our support of Adult Education and Literacy and the training opportunities which we provide for local industry.

Our designation as a Specialist Humanities College lasts for four years, after which we shall be eligible to apply for redesignation.  The award of this status brings with it a government grant of £129,000 per year and we also have a Learning Support Centre which was built partly with the funding from the DfES, but also thanks to our own fundraising efforts.  It seems appropriate that we should pay public thanks to those who provided us with the finance (totalling £50,000) which made our bid possible.

We thank first of all those numerous parents who donated so generously. We also received support from many other sources:

Businesses:

• A. Stodel, Optometrists
• Perfect Vision, Opticians
• Danarbor Limited
• HSBC
• Midwich
• St. John’s House Hospital
• Desira Group plc
• Euro Bounty
• Madgetts Cycles
• Larking Gowen
• Weavers Wine Bar

Trusts/Charities:

• Taylor and Hammond Educational Foundation
• John Jarrold Trust
• Paul Basham Charitable Trust
• The Friends of Diss High School

Other sponsorship:

• Sir Rupert Mann
• David S. Black
• Mrs D Burroughs
• Mr E Nicoli
• SJ and JH Sykes
• Mr B Overy
• Mrs L Gardiner
• Mr M Crouch
• Mr and Mrs P Rowe
• Mr N J Hart