A blueprint for how a reformed secondary school system might operate has been put forward by the government.

Five local projects in England have been announced which show how the school system might work in the post-comprehensive system outlined in the government's education White Paper.

This includes local authorities in which every secondary school is a specialist, another where schools work together in a "collegiate academy" and where new specialisms are developed to reflect the needs of the local economy.

The announcements were made as the Office for Standards in Education reported that while specialist schools were achieving good results, they were not sharing their extra resources with other neighbourhood schools.

The five "pathfinder" authorities, Birmingham, Cornwall, Hertfordshire, Newham and Portsmouth, will be the next step in developing a more diverse secondary school system.

The proposals for Portsmouth includes plans to achieve specialist status for schools which are currently under special measures.

These schemes, supported by a funding package of �8m between 2002 to 2006, will examine ways of integrating the increased number of specialist schools with other non-specialist schools.

"Pathfinders will focus on the growth of specialist schools because we know they are getting good results for pupils," said the Education Secretary Estelle Morris.

Raising standards in secondary school has been made a priority of the government's education policy.

And the introduction of greater diversity - and a move away from a single type of comprehensive - has been identified by the government has a key to reform.

The Department for Education says that the five pathfinder areas will create:

Birmingham: "Collegiate academy" in which secondary schools will work together as a "commonwealth" in areas of staff development, support services, buildings and admissions.

Cornwall: Developing new specialist schools to respond to needs of local economy. Primary and secondary to be linked by a "learning forum".

Hertfordshire: Extra specialist schools and commitment to "wider contribution by specialist schools beyond individual communities".

London Borough of Newham: All secondary schools to be developed as "inclusive" specialists, focusing on professional development of teachers and raising achievement.

Portsmouth: All secondary schools to work towards becoming specialists, including those currently in special measures.

There will be a co-ordinated plan to ensure spread of specialisms across the local education authority.

A school to be developed as a teacher training school where local staff can improve skills.