The days of bog-standard comprehensives - the ones the Education Secretary wouldn't touch with a bargepole - are supposed to be numbered.

One of the solutions proposed by Estelle Morris has been to develop more and more specialist schools.

By the time children of secondary age turn up for the new term in September, one in three will find themselves attending one. And the target is for 1500 specialist schools three years from now, that's half of the total in England.

But the cherished status comes at a price: before they can apply, head-teachers have to raise fifty thousand pounds in sponsorship - and they're finding it a hard and time-consuming task.

Jane Dreaper compiled this report.