A SOUTH Lakeland primary school has been selected to become a National Teaching School.

Burton Morewood CofE Primary Academy is one of only 54 schools in England to be granted teaching school status in the latest round.

Introduced in 2011, Teaching Schools are all rated as “outstanding" and take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession. 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 that the most talented school leaders are spotted and supported to become successful head teachers.

Head Teacher Sue Woodburn said: “We are delighted to be given this opportunity to work with schools across our partnership to improve outcomes for all our young people.”

Teaching School Lead and School Assistant Head Teacher Richard Wilson said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our school to move forward in supporting teachers of the future and schools within our partnership. The award of Teaching School status reflects the hard work and dedication from staff that already goes on in many of the key development areas”

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has responsibility, in partnership with head teachers from the Teaching Schools Council, for the designation and quality of the teaching schools programme.

The latest designation round takes the number of teaching schools to more than 700.

Roger Pope, chairman of the the National College for Teaching and Leadership, said: “I’d like to congratulate Burton Morewood - they should be very proud of this achievement.

“Teaching schools have shown themselves to be at the heart of school improvement. They’re supporting other schools, attracting and training the best new teachers and developing the next generation of leaders. At NCTL, we want to do all we can to support their work. “

The successful schools will be invited to attend a national teaching school induction event.