Gove sets out to raise teaching standards

The teaching schools, similar to teaching hospitals, will showcase the best classroom practice and allow more training to take place in the classroom.

There will be an expansion in the TeachFirst programme to attract top graduates into schools, as well as a new TeachNext scheme for people switching careers.

And there will be subsidies for graduates going into teaching in key subjects such as science and maths.

At the same time, Government funding for initial teacher training for graduates with a third-class degree will be removed and regulations on removing incompetent staff will be simplified, enabling headteachers to "deal more swiftly, effectively and fairly with underperforming members of staff".

Would-be teachers will face aptitude tests to assess their suitability for the job,

Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, said the Government would explore paying off the student loans of graduates in shortage subjects who wished to enter teaching.

He claimed the number of high quality graduates entering the profession could be doubled as a result of the measures.

He said: "The countries that come out top of international studies into educational performance recognise that the most crucial factor in determining how well children do at school is the quality of their teachers."