A WORCESTER school has been recognised as one of the top establishments in the country for training new teachers.

Over the past 10 years, Christopher Whitehead High School has trained more than 150 teachers in partnership with University College Worcester (UCW).

At a Government launch today, in London, it will be officially named as a Partnership Project school.

"We're very proud," said Shaun Hughes, professional mentor at the Bromwich Road school.

"It's a huge pat on the back. It's recognition of everything we've been doing over the last 10 years."

The school was nominated by UCW for the project, which is overseen by the Teacher Training Agency.

It is one of five schools in the Midlands found to have an excellent success rate among trainee teachers.

"Everyone wants to get involved," said Mr Hughes, who is also acting head of art.

"It's good for the staff and for the pupils.

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"There's no disadvantages because you learn from every situation."

Mr Hughes has also been awarded Initial Teaching Training Advanced Skills Teaching status, which highlights his abilities as a professional mentor.

There are 200 of these posts created by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) nationally and Mr Hughes is the only one in Worcestershire.

"Because of this I've now got time to develop the Partnership Project properly," he said.

"I'm going to be working with local schools and UCW to make sure we've got excellent trainee teachers coming through.

"The idea of the scheme is to encourage people to teach and we want to raise the profession's profile."

Mr Hughes has received congratulations from staff at the school, who say the achievement is in recognition of his hard work.

"He's an excellent supporter of people new to the profession," said deputy head Andy Shaw.

"He's a mentor to newly qualified teachers here as well as managing and supporting the course for trainee teachers at university."