Tories 'will pave way for top talent in teaching'

Unveiling his party’s draft education manifesto, the Opposition leader will warn top talent is being put off the switch by the red tape involved.

And he will promise “brazenly elitist” measures to entice the most talented graduates to the profession and keep out those with poorer degrees.

The package of measures, which he will unveil during a visit to a south London school, includes a “one stop shop” system to ease the transfer from the boardroom to the classroom.

Mr Cameron will also renew promises to axe state-funded teacher training for people with third-class degrees, pay off the student loans of those with science and maths qualifications and send more of the best candidates into inner-city schools.

But the Government accused the Tories of planning budget cuts that would mean teachers being axed and opposing existing Labour reforms aimed at boosting teaching quality.

Speaking with education spokesman Michael Gove, Mr Cameron will say he is “committed to a comprehensive programme of reform to elevate the status of teaching”.

He will say: “We will replace the Graduate Teacher Programme with a new one – Teach Now. Modelled on Teach First, it will be a one-stop-shop for people who want to transfer into teaching.

“Only the best professionals with the best qualifications need apply. And after a rigorous application process, if you’ve made the grade, you’ll be put straight into a school.

“This will make a huge difference to our children.”