Language Colleges commit themselves to a four-year development plan with specific targets to improve their standards as a whole and to raise performance and participation in modern foreign languages. They aim to promote an international ethos across the whole curriculum and they develop close links with schools abroad. They will have the support of industry, both financially and through the provision of advice and management support. Language Colleges use and develop best practice techniques for raising educational standards. They work with other schools and the wider community in sharing facilities and educational resources.

The Specialist Schools Programme helps schools, in partnership with private sector sponsors and supported by additional Government funding, to build on their particular strengths, establish distinctive identities through their chosen specialisms, and achieve their targets to raise standards. Specialist schools have a special focus on their chosen subject area but must meet the full National Curriculum requirements and deliver a broad and balanced education to all pupils. The October 2001 OFSTED survey of the Programme Specialist Schools: An evaluation of progress (pdf, 229 kB) confirmed that, for the vast majority of existing specialist schools, specialist status has helped them to sustain or accelerate the pace of whole-school improvement and has acted as a catalyst for innovation.

Specialist schools aim to:

• raise standards of achievement, particularly in the specialist subjects, for all their pupils;
• extend the range of opportunities available to pupils which best meet their needs and interests;
• raise the standards of teaching and learning in the specialist subjects;
• develop a visible character in their chosen specialism which signals its changed identity and which is reflected in the school's aims. This new identity should be clear to other schools and the local community;
• benefit other schools in the area; and
• strengthen the links between schools and private or charitable sector sponsors. Sponsors will not only support the specialism with cash or goods sponsorship, but will also take an ongoing role in the development of the school.

Any maintained secondary school in England may apply to be designated as a specialist school in one of eight specialist areas: language, sports, arts (performing, visual or media), business and enterprise, technology, engineering, science, and mathematics & computing. Schools can also combine two specialisms. Schools designated in their chosen specialist area are referred to as 'Colleges' (e.g. Language Colleges).