To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government has taken to encourage more schools in the West Midlands to achieve specialist status. (189143)

[holding answer 28 February 2008]: All maintained secondary schools who meet the criteria for the specialist schools programme are encouraged to apply for specialist status. This includes special schools with secondary aged pupils. We grant the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and the Youth Sport Trust funding to support and advise all aspiring specialist schools.

There are currently 336 designated specialist schools in the West Midlands, which is around 93 per cent. of all eligible secondary schools in that region. There are also 26 special schools designated of which 15 have curriculum specialisms and 11 have special educational needs/inclusion specialisms.