HALF of Southampton's secondary schools have now achieved coveted specialist status with today's announcement that three more have succeeded in their bids.

Hampshire, too, had good news from the government with a further three schools in the region - two in Gosport and one in Eastleigh - getting the nod.

Woodlands is the first school in the city, and one of only ten in the country, to be awarded specialist status in two subjects.

Head teacher Richard Martin said: "This news is a brilliant next step in our improvement. It underlines the excellent work we have been doing over the past few years. It comes in a year when we have moved into a multi-million-pound new school and have achieved the most improved GCSE results of all the schools in Southampton."

All the schools will now benefit from additional funding over the next four years to help provide more science, performing arts and engineering opportunities for their pupils, partners and community groups.

In order to get the status, schools have to prepare a complex bid and work with local businesses to raise £50,000 sponsorship.

St Anne's Convent School now plans to refurbish its facilities, improve staffing

levels and build a new science block.

Head teacher Catherine Hargaden said: "This is fantastic news."

Bitterne Park School will redevelop its performing arts facilities after becoming the first specialist of its kind in the city.

Head teacher Susan Trigger said: "It has been two and a half years of hard work by the whole school to achieve the huge amount of fundraising required to make the bid.

"The news means that we will continue to raise the standards at Bitterne Park School."

Phillip Munday, head teacher at Eastleigh's Crestwood School, is looking forward to producing the next crop of Richard Bransons.

The Shakespeare Road school now plans to enhance its IT facilities and create a new learning resources centre.

THE SPECIALISTS:

Southampton

Woodlands School - Science and Engineering

Bitterne Park School - Performing Arts

St Anne's Convent School - Science

Hampshire

Bay House School, Gosport - Maths and Computing

Brune Park Community School, Gosport - Performing Arts

Crestwood Community School, Eastleigh - business and Enterprise