Sir Ken Jackson

Government plans for schools to specialise in particular subject areas have split the trade union movement.

As the government pushes ahead with plans for 166 new specialist comprehensives, teaching unions have criticised manufacturing union Amicus for investing £250,000 in 10 secondary schools specialising in engineering.

School standards minister David Miliband announced on Thursday that a new expansion drive would take the number of children in the scheme over the million mark. By September more than 34 percent of pupils will be taught in the new schools

The schools "major" on a chosen subject area but also teach other subjects in the national curriculum. The controversy stems from the schools having to raise £50,000 in sponsorship and receiving a one-off capital grant of £100,000.

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

But teaching unions have been campaigning against the government's plans, saying they amount to the privatisation of the schools concerned.

"They are ignoring the views of the teacher unions and the policy of the TUC. We are extremely disappointed at their decision and we will be taking it up through the TUC," said NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy.

The government welcomed Amicus's move, which provides some much-needed support for its reform policies among the union

Education secretary Estelle Morris said: "Amicus is joining business and industry in recognising that education is core to the prosperity of the nation.

"The union has a wealth of experience in engineering that it can share with pupils and teachers."