Hundreds of youngsters are to benefit from Sussex schools being granted specialist status.

Education Minister David Miliband today (mon) announced that Hillcrest School, in Hastings, has been made a languages college.

Meanwhile, Chichester High School for Boys has been made a Business and Enterprise College and Thomas Bennett Community College, in .. which is run by West Sussex County Council, has been granted sports status.

The schools will receive £100,000 to upgrade their facilities.

Mr Miliband said the schools were embarking upon an exciting project that would lead to increased learning opportunities.

"The students of today will be the entrepreneurs, computer experts, science teachers and engineers of tomorrow."

Specialist schools have a special focus on their chosen subject area but must meet the full National Curriculum requirements and deliver a "broad and balanced education" to pupils.

All maintained secondary schools in England are eligible to apply to become specialist schools. They must raise £50,000 from the private sector to take part.

They are central to the Government's attempt to drive up standards in schools, by phasing out the "bog standard" comprehensives.

Today's announcement of 217 more specialist schools across the country takes the total to 1,209 - exceeding the target of 1,000 by September this year.

Some 38 per cent of secondary schools now have secondary status.