A HEADTEACHER is determined that only the best will do for her school — and others in the Farnworth area.

So when St Peter's CE Primary School signed up to the government's teacher training programme, Schools Direct, headteacher Lynn Williams said only the best need apply.

Now those recruits are applying for jobs in readiness for when they graduate as newly qualified teachers at the end of the academic year — and they and the schools hope the trainees will stay in the area where they learned how to teach.

Unlike traditional courses, the trainees are learning in the classroom as opposed to a lecture hall.

The Department for Education says a school-led training course gives students the chance to learn "on the job" in a school.

Trainees are said to be part of the teaching team from day one — similar to student medics in hospitals — learning from experienced, practising colleagues and immediately putting new skills into practice.

Farnworth schools say they want the very best because often children's starting points are lower than their peers nationally, so teachers have to work hard to ensure pupils leaving school are achieving at least marks in line with the national average.

Having the best teachers could help take their mark even higher and take good schools to outstanding, teachers say.

Every week, the students meet at St Peter's CE Primary School in Farnworth, where they learn teaching techniques from specialist teachers from across Farnworth

Mrs Williams said: "All the trainees have 2:1 degrees or higher.

"They are all high achievers and we want them to stay in Farnworth — outstanding practitioners in Farnworth have invested their time in them and we want them to teach in schools in this area.

"It is an investment for us because we will need teachers in the future as the school grows."

Mrs Williams said that the Schools Direct approach would make the trainees ready to teach as soon as they qualify.

She said: "Each student is given a school at which they are based for the year — experiencing the same as a teacher in their first year in the classroom

"To the pupils they are teachers, and the training is bespoke to what we know makes outstanding teaching, for example voice coaching and placements at other schools in the borough."

She added: "I am really pleased with them."

Schools direct trainee James Dunn, aged 24, said: "I am from Kearsley and grew up around the corner from these children.

"I feel as if I can relate to them and I really want to inspire them.

"I am at Queensbridge Primary School and I feel through this model, with a smaller cohort, we can share our experiences.

"I feel like I am a teacher and not a student."

Brydie Kennedy, aged 24, added: "I am seeing outstanding practice all the time.

"I have made so much progress from when I first came in on this course — I do want to work in this area."