The public sector union Amicus is to sponsor 10 specialist schools with a donation of a quarter of a million pounds.

The move has infuriated the largest teachers' union, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), which says the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is opposed to the government's specialist schools programme.

It's privatisation and they would be the first to shout if the NUT supported privatisation in their field

National Union of Teachers

The specialist schools scheme - where schools are given extra government funding to focus on specific subjects such as technology, languages and sport - has proved controversial.

Critics say the programme is divisive, creating a higher tier of better-funded schools.

Now the NUT says that by sponsoring 10 schools to specialise in engineering, Amicus is going against TUC policy.

"It's privatisation and they would be the first to shout if the NUT supported privatisation in their field," a spokeswoman said.

The NUT is also angered that it was not consulted over the move and says it will refer the matter to the TUC.

Enthusing pupils

But Sir Ken Jackson, general secretary of Amicus, said: "We are always the first to moan about skills shortages in manufacturing - we thought it was time to put our money where our mouth is.

"Our members and officials have a lifetime of experience to share, and our links with employers and business put us in a unique position to offer kids something extra.

"The �250,000 donation we're announcing today is only a first step. We intend to invest more once we have evaluated the success of the first 10 schools."

Ministers' delight

The Department for Education said it was delighted Amicus had become the first trade union to sponsor specialist schools.

"The union has a wealth of experience in engineering that it can share with pupils and teachers," said Education Secretary Estelle Morris.

"It is joining business and industry in recognising that education is core to the prosperity of the nation."

Amicus was formed by a merger between the AEEU and MSF unions in January and donated more than �2m to the Labour Party last year.