The money will be awarded to the first 20 schools

Education Minister Peter Peacock is urging councils to select the first 20 secondaries to be awarded extra cash.

His scheme, which will apply to the best and worst of schools, is part of a policy to revolutionise education.

Shake-up plans have been lambasted by Scottish Nationalists and critics in the Conservative Party.

Proposals for specialist teaching cover schools with poor inspection reports, as well as those which promise to set new standards of excellence.

The winning schools are likely to be under new management. From the autumn, they will each receive an extra �100,000 per year for up to three years.

Schools which are selected will have to demonstrate they have the leadership to deliver change Peter Peacock MSP Education Minister

Ministers have insisted the scheme may be topped up with private cash from business leaders in future.

Mr Peacock said: "Although Scotland's education system is among the top performers internationally, we want to see the nation's schools improve even further.

"We are intent on ensuring schools do more to stretch, challenge and inspire their pupils. This is a long-term commitment which will transform countless schools across the whole of Scotland."

He added: "The Schools of Ambition programme is an unprecedented opportunity for schools to raise their ambitions and expectations for themselves and their pupils, and I am sure they will grasp that opportunity.

Parents and teachers are fed up of educational policy by buzzword Fiona Hyslop MSP Scottish National Party

"The programme will fast-track changes in those schools most in need of transformation or which want to extend themselves further."

The minister continued: "Strong leadership will be key and schools which are selected will have to demonstrate they have the leadership to deliver change."

But the Scottish National Party dismissed the plan as neither new nor original, and insisted it would only benefit one school in 20.

Education spokesman Fiona Hyslop said: "Ministers are too focussed on inventing headline-grabbing initiatives within our education system, rather than tackling the fundamental challenges facing us today.

'No strings attached'

"Parents and teachers are fed up of educational policy by buzzword."

Conservative critics were equally dismissive.

Spokesman Brian Monteith said: ""This is a parsimonious scheme that does not give schools the resources or independence they need; until money follows pupils into all schools we cannot begin to solve Scotland's growing education gap."

The councils' organisation, Cosla, said the scheme offered local authorities a "fantastic opportunity" to help schools.

Education spokesman Councillor Rev Ewan Aitken said: "Cosla welcomes additional resources, whether from the Scottish Executive or from philanthropic donors, but whatever the source, our position is clear - there must be no strings attached.