Click here for The Times GCSE and A-Level results table I Click here for GCSE results of the 'National Challenge' Schools

Schools deemed by the Government to be underperforming could face the extra blow of losing their specialist status and linked funding.

Two months ago, Ed Balls identified 638 schools as having fewer than 30 per cent of pupils achieving five good GCSEs, including English and maths.

He gave local authorities 50 days to come up with an action plan to raise standards at each school, under the National Challenge initiative.

Many of the schools are now suffering from the adverse publicity, with fewer parents wanting to enrol their children next year.

More than seven in 10 of the 638 schools are specialist - focusing on a subject such as science, arts, sports or languages. These 450 schools are given a one-off extra grant of £100,000, plus £129 per pupil per year.

In an extra setback for such schools, it emerged yesterday that they may not be allowed to reapply for specialist status - or receive additional funding - unless they rise above the benchmark of three in 10 pupils attaining five A* to C grade GCSEs including English and maths.

Those which fail to meet this target will have to prove they are making good progress to save their ranking.

Specialist schools have to renew their status every three years. Those who needed to reapply this summer were told to wait until Spetember so this week’s GCSE results could be taken into account.

A spokesman for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust said: “Being awarded specialist status requires meeting strict criteria and schools must demonstrate their ability and commitment to raising achievement across the curriculum.

“It is important these standards are maintained. We recognise the concern the Department for Children, Schools and Families’(DCSF) decision will cause some schools, but we are confident many of them will meet the floor target.

“Consideration will also be given to those that demonstrate good progress toward the target.”

A document published by the DCSF on the issue said: “Schools not demonstrating progress towards the 30 per cent target will enter the probation category.

“Ultimately, specialist status can be withdrawn if a school is not able to continue to meet the standards required of those in the programme.”

However a DCSF spokesman said yesterday: “We are not taking away these schools’ specialist status or the associated funding. Once the 2008 results are known we will consider which schools will require extra help to get up to standard.

“Any schools which are not up to standard will be given time and support to improve. They will retain their specialist status and the associated funding and will also benefit from the wider support available to all schools below the floor target through the National Challenge.”

Schools included in the National Challenge will see their funding doubled in an attempt to raise standards. Those that fail to meet the target by 2011 face being closed down or being replaced by academies. Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said: “It’s undoubted that being in the National Challenge will have damaged schools. Despite the best intentions, the effect of being threatened with closure will impact on these schools for years to come.”

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