Hillcrest School chosen as national teaching school

Hillcrest School and Community College in Netherton, Dudley has been selected for an important new role aimed at further raising standards.

The school is one of only about 100 schools in England to be granted teaching school status in the second wave. The designation by the National College for School Leadership entitles the school to lead the training and professional development for staff.

April Garratt, Principal of Hillcrest School and Community College said: "We are delighted to have been awarded Teaching School status. After submitting our application we had a very positive HMI visit earlier this year which resulted in us being recommended to receive the designation. Teaching School will build on our previous role as Training School and through this we look forward to our continued work with, and support, of other schools."

Staff from the successful school will now be invited to the National College's Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham this month for a formal induction.

The teaching schools initiative began last autumn, marking a shift towards school-centred training and development. The programme gives outstanding schools the freedom and autonomy to lead a group of schools, working with other partners including at least one university, to deliver high quality support for teachers and leaders at all stages in their career.

The National College has responsibility for the designation and quality of the teaching schools programme, working closely with the Department for Education (DfE), as the national network grows to 500 teaching schools by 2014.

Steve Munby, Chief Executive of the National College, said: "Teaching schools like Hillcrest School and Community College need to be at the top of their game to take on this role - outstanding in their own performance and have a track record of raising standards through school-to-school support.

"We now have over 200 teaching schools around the country who are in a position to harness the finest teaching talent in the profession to drive school improvement in innovative ways, and bring real benefits to pupils and staff. Trainees can learn from the best teachers in action and those who want to move up the career ladder are exposed to excellent practice within and beyond their immediate school."

As they develop, teaching schools working with other schools and universities will help to provide a strong supply of new teachers, develop leaders and the next generation of heads, and support schools in challenging circumstances.