SIX schools across Hampshire are celebrating after being granted specialist status.

They will be given a £100,000 government grant and an extra £129 per pupil over the next four years to raise standards in their specialist area as well as across the curriculum.

The extra funds have already been lined up for new equipment, buildings and in some cases extra staff that could help drive up standards across the curriculum.

In Hampshire the newly-designated schools were Cams Hill in Fareham (science), Portchester Community School (arts) and Bridgemary Community School in Gosport (sport).

Across Southampton the new specialist schools, which will also have to share their resources with partner schools and the community, are Oaklands Community School (arts), Weston Park Boys' School (business and enterprise) and St George's Catholic School for Boys (science and humanities).

David Wilmot, head teacher of the 1,030-pupil Cams Hill School, said he was delighted with the successful bid which will see more money spent at the school on science, ICT and maths.

"This additional funding will have a significant impact on all subjects and learning across the school through ICT and new purpose-built facilities to support teacher training in all subjects."

Head teacher Helen Knight of the 610-pupil St George's Catholic School for boys in Southampton, said she was pleased to be one of only a handful of schools to be awarded science and humanities status.

"We are very excited by this because it is a unique bid that combines contrasting subjects," she said.

Dr Peter Hollis, head teacher of Oaklands Community School, said: "We are very pleased. We hope that specialist status will raise standards across the curriculum."

Plans in the pipeline at the 705-pupil school include a new dance studio, a full refurbishment of the theatre and art area including a new textile and IT suite.

Industry giants the Arcadia Group, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Aquatite Builders backed the 600-pupil Weston Park Boys' School bid. "This will mean inward investment of close to £500,000 over the next three years," said head teacher Eric Freeman.

HEALTHY SCHOOLS:

TWELVE Hampshire Schools have been awarded healthy schools status.

Each had to make improvements in two areas to qualify for the award after a visit from an inspector. They included citizenship, healthy eating, physical activity, safety, sex and relationships, drugs education, the environment and personal, social and health education.

Activities at some of the schools include setting up pupil councils.

The roll of honour is: Bursledon Junior School; Elson Infant School, Gosport; Fair Oak Junior School, Eastleigh; Grange Infant School, Gosport; Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School; Lockerley C of E Endowed Primary School, Romsey; Newtown C of E (voluntary controlled) Primary School, Gosport; Park Gate Primary School; Ranvilles Junior School, Fareham; Ringwood CE Infant School; St John's C of E Primary, Rownham's and Wickham Primary School, Fareham.