THE Government has nam-ed and shamed Worcest-ershire schools for failing to stretch their brightest pupils in a national talent programme.

As revealed by the Worcester News last month, more than half the county's schools do not have any youngsters in the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.

Schools Minister and Redditch MP Jacqui Smith has now disclosed that they include Christopher White-head Language College and Bishop Perowne in Worcester. Also listed are high schools in Droitwich, Evesham and Hanley Castle, as well as Blackminster, Simon de Montfort and St Egwin's middle schools in Evesham.

The Warwick-based academy, which provides e-learning, summer schools and outreach events, is supposed to have the brightest five per cent on its rolls.

But one headteacher has condemned the Govern-ment's 'findings' as not entirely correct.

Julie Farr, of Bishop Perowne school, said: "We have nominated people, and they have been accepted, but for various reasons those individuals have

chosen not to take up the offer. The academy in Warwick is just one of the initiatives nationally for gifted children.

"Several of ours who would have gone there took up a global scholarship instead, going to Europe and America.

"As a school, we are also involved in something in Worcestershire called the Challenge Award, which is LEA accredited."

According to the Government, only 1.6 per cent of Worcestershire's secondary pupils are currently registered with the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth - just 795 out of the county's 49,869 secondary pupils. Entry is based on teachers' recommendations.

Some of the schools that have taken up the opportunity to enhance the achievements of their most talented pupils in this way have submitted only a handful

of names.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne and Nunnery Wood in Worcester have put forward just one each.

Elgar Technology College has 14 pupils enrolled.

Worcester MP Michael Foster, a former teacher, said he would confront headteachers of schools with poor take-up rates.

He said: "We should be doing all we can, in every school, to fulfil the potential of gifted and talented pupils. At the moment it looks like a lottery, with some schools offering this support and others less inclined."

Again this was something disputed by Miss Farr, who added: "I think that most schools take an interest in their gifted children and that is certainly not impoverished territory here."