ANOTHER six schools in the region have won coveted specialist status from the government and are set to transform themselves into colleges with top facilities for their forte.

The five winning schools in Hampshire mean that a third of all schools in the county are now specialist, while the announcement of a second specialist in Southampton is just the tip of an iceberg of schools bidding to make the switch.

Schools can opt to specialise in one of several core curriculum areas such as science, maths, the arts, languages and technology and, if the government approves, they get £100,000 to help them do it.

The new specialists are : The Toynbee School, Chandler's Ford (sports); The Clere School, in North Hampshire (technology); Henry Cort School, Fareham (sports); Richard Aldworth Community School, Basingstoke (science); Ringwood School, Ringwood (language). In Southampton, Redbridge Community School joined the former Sholing Girls' School - now Sholing Technology College - as a specialist.

Head teacher Richard Schofield said: "We are absolutely delighted with the news that we have been awarded sports specialist status. It is a tribute to the hard work of the staff.

"This new status, combined with the £10.3m rebuilding of the school which is due to open this spring, sees a very exciting future on the cards for pupils at Redbridge Community School."

Over at the Toynbee School, staff and students were celebrating.

Head David Jones said: "We are obviously delighted and this gives us an opportunity to do some new things and provide some new facilities."

l The following schools have already gained specialist status:

Hampshire: Applemore College, Dibden Purlieu (technology). Mountbatten School and Language College, Romsey (language). The Romsey School, Romsey (language). Thornden School, Chandler's Ford (performing arts). Bohunt School, Liphook (language). Wyvern Technology College, Eastleigh (technology). Horndean Technology College (technology). The Arnewood School, New Milton (technology). Swanmore College of Technology, Swanmore, (technology). Costello Technology College, Basingstoke (technology). Brighton Hill Community College, Basingstoke (sports). Hamble Community Sports College (sports). Yateley School, Yateley (performing arts). Park Community School, Havant (arts). The Hurst Community School, Tadley (science). The Vyne School, Basingstoke (arts). The Wavell School, Farnborough (technology). Brookfield Community School, Sarisbury Green (languages). Perins Community School, Alresford (sports). Henry Beaufort School, Winchester (technology). Wildern School, Hedge End (arts).

Southampton: Sholing Technology College (technology). Redbridge Community School (sports).