A MENSTON school is to take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession after being selected to become a National Teaching School.

St Mary’s is one of 52 schools in England to be granted teaching status in the latest round of the scheme.

Teaching Schools take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession, identifying leadership potential and providing support for other schools, not least by exemplifying excellent standards of teaching.

Introduced in 2011, Teaching Schools are all rated as 'outstanding'. They work with partner schools in an alliance to ensure high quality school-led initial teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers at all stages of their career.

They raise standards through supporting other schools, engage in research and development and ensure the most talented school leaders are spotted and supported to become successful headteachers.

St Mary’s headteacher, Darren Beardsley, said: “Becoming a Teaching School again demonstrates the consistently high standards we have at St Mary's, and is also recognition for the work we already undertaken in training teachers and in supporting other schools.

"This will allow us to fulfil our mission of serving the local community, enabling St Mary's to develop and strengthen further, as well as providing us with the opportunity to increase our contribution to the development of the wider school system.”

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has responsibility – in partnership with headteachers from the Teaching Schools Council – for the designation and quality of the programme.

NCTL chief executive, Charlie Taylor, said: “St Mary’s in Menston should be very proud of this achievement.

"The school has been recognised as a centre of excellence in its area, with an outstanding performance and a track record of raising standards through supporting other schools.

"There are now almost 700 Teaching Schools around the country. They are at the heart of an increasingly school-led system, leading the way in improving the quality of our teachers and helping the schools in their partnership to become even better. Like Teaching Hospitals, they have become centres of excellence across the country, conducting research and training teachers.”

The successful schools will be invited to attend a national Teaching School induction event in October.