A record number of schools applied for specialist status last year. A total of 261 secondary schools applied in the latest round of bidding in October 2001 - up from 154 in March. The latest bids are currently being assessed but just over half of those made in March were successful.
After initial enthusiasm for the scheme among some schools, the number of applications dropped sharply during the latter half of 1998. Heads had complained that some schools were prevented from applying because they could not raise the necessary business sponsorship.
But the Government has remained determined to expand the number of specialist schools (to 1,500 by 2005) and applications increased by more than 50 per cent in 2000 before reaching record levels this year.
The figures were given in an answer by schools minister Stephen Timms to a question from Lib Dem MP, David Laws.